Please use disposable nursing pads during the acute phase!
In this blog post, I would like to give you, as a mother seeking support, some tips with which you can successfully treat a thrush infection in yourself and possibly your baby and prevent further infection.
My name is Ulrike H., and I've been working as a midwife in Berlin for 25 years. I can therefore draw on a wealth of experience gained over the past decades through various fields of midwifery.
The births and babyhood of my own two daughters, who are now grown up, have also brought me many new insights, challenges, and of course a great deal of joy and fulfillment into my personal life.
Now I would like to give you the promised information you are looking for.
First, it seems important that you get a definitive diagnosis of thrush from a midwife or doctor. Thrush symptoms often vary greatly from woman to woman, so getting a clear diagnosis is crucial.
Thrush is a yeast infection (Candida). What distinguishes this infection from other breast (areola) pains is the fact that they often only appear days, weeks, or months after birth. Other breast (areola) pains are more likely to occur at the beginning of breastfeeding. It should also be noted, however, that injuries to the nipple, e.g., due to poor latching, can promote yeast colonization. Thrush is a contagious fungal infection and a fairly common breastfeeding problem.
An untreated breast infection can lead to mastitis, milk stasis, and breast inflammation.
Next, I would like to show you the symptoms by which you can recognize a thrush infection in you and/or your baby:
In your baby, the infection may appear as follows:
Even in children, symptoms are not always visible externally.
The recommendation is usually to have more frequent, but shorter, feedings to make breastfeeding more comfortable. It's beneficial to position your baby in different positions. Offer the less painful breast first, then switch to the other side.
Please make sure you put it on correctly!
The baby should grasp the breast tissue properly and the nipple should be deep in the oral cavity so that no pressure is exerted on the nipple.
The baby may be fed expressed breast milk. It is important that the expressed milk is used on the same day. Freezing does not destroy the fungal pathogen! Therefore, storing breast milk is not advisable. Breast pump accessories, teething rings, pacifiers, etc., must be disinfected. Please be sure to practice good hand and body hygiene and avoid bathing your baby together.
A thrush infection usually requires medication, often for both mother and baby, to prevent further cross-infection. Please consult your doctor/midwife for the appropriate treatment (usually ointments, gels, and rarely tablets). A sufficiently long course of treatment prevents a rapid recurrence of the infection.
I highly recommend ELANEE's ultra-thin nursing pads. At less than 1.4 mm, they're extremely thin and, thanks to their discreet fit, fit like a second skin. This means they cause less pain for often-irritated nipples.
During therapy, you should also make sure to expose the nipples to as much additional light and air as possible, as this promotes the healing process.
Please DO NOT allow breast milk to dry on the nipple! After breastfeeding, rinse off any residue with water and keep the nipple dry.
The bra should also be changed often and washed at least 60 degrees.
If you find touching or fabric contact with your nipples uncomfortable or even painful, ELANEE nipple rings can help. They support nipple wound healing by providing a hollow position (allowing air to circulate) and even pressure equalization. The nipple rings are a disposable product that can be worn for up to 24 hours and then replaced. Your doctor can prescribe this product.
Once you and/or your baby have completely cleared up from the thrush infection, it's important to prevent a recurrence. To do this, consider the various ways to reduce stress in your daily life. Feel free to accept help and support from those around you, or arrange for it.
Stress, in particular, prevents your immune system from working effectively and makes you more susceptible to various infections.
Be sure to get enough sleep. If your breastfed baby wakes you up frequently during the night, use your daytime nap time to rest.
Perhaps your baby's dad or grandma can take a "shift" so you can catch up on some sleep. There are also many herbal remedies, vitamins, and minerals that help stabilize your immune system and are very compatible with breastfeeding. Feel free to consult your midwife or doctor about this.
Finally, I'd like to introduce you to one last product from ELANEE that can help prevent recurrences of thrush. These are washable silver nursing pads. I highly recommend these nursing pads because they are particularly cooling, breathable, and antibacterial. In my midwifery practice, I've had very positive experiences with them for preventing thrush. The integrated silver thread prevents microorganisms (bacteria) from taking hold in the first place.
The good thing about it: The ELANEE silver nursing pads are reusable (washable).
I hope that my tips from my many years of midwifery practice can help you and contribute to the successful treatment of a thrush infection.
We wish you a wonderful breastfeeding time with your baby
Ulrike H. /Midwife/ Berlin
Important note: This article contains only general information and should not be used for self-diagnosis or treatment. It is not a substitute for a consultation with a doctor.
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