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Expert Q&A


	By Mary Kay Smith IBCLC, Lactation Consultant

Do you have any suggestions for managing thrush?

If prescribed, take daily medication, such as oral Nystatin or Diflucan, as directed.

If oral medication is not prescribed, use antifungal agents to rub on nipples.

After feeding, use a vinegar rinse on nipples. Pat nipples dry (try paper towels) and apply antifungal cream.

Gentian violet is another effective option. It can be applied to mother's nipples and areola twice daily. Use a fresh cotton swab for each breast. Warning, it stains!

Expose the nipples to air when possible. Keep the nipples and areola dry. If nipples are too painful to tolerate the touch of clothing, you can wear breast shells in your bra.

Reduce sugar intake and eliminate artificial sweeteners from the diet. Yeast may cause you to crave sugary foods, cheese, bread or alcohol. Decrease consumption of these until treatment is completed. Some women also will need to reduce intake of all dairy products.

Take six capsules of acidophilus evenly spaced throughout the day. Refrigerated capsule forms with "live" cultures are most effective. Adding plain yogurt to the diet is good as well, but you may be eating yogurt all day!

Add garlic or garlic capsules to the diet. Garlic is an anti-fungal and an immune system booster.

If you are using a breast pump or wearing breast shells, wash after each use and boil all parts that touch the breast or the milk in water with cup vinegar added daily.

Wash hands often, especially after using the bathroom or changing a diaper and before and after expressing milk or feeding the baby (milk is a perfect growth medium for the yeast organism). All family members who change diapers or feed the baby should follow these guidelines. Use paper towels to decrease the risk of growth on damp towels.

Use disposable nursing pads, but avoid those with a plastic liner, which will cause you to retain moisture.

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