Breastfeeding: Thrush Infection

Thrush is a name for a yeast infection, which grows rapidly in warm, moist areas. This infection may be on the nipples or breast or in the baby’s mouth or diaper area. Sometimes both parent and baby have thrush, or only one may have thrush. To prevent the spread of yeast, wash your hands frequently before and after touching your breast/chest, baby’s mouth or baby’s diaper area. Below are symptoms you or your baby may experience if a yeast infection is present. Use of antibiotics may put you or your baby at increased risk of a yeast infections.

Some Signs of Thrush for Lactating Parents

• Red or deep pink nipples or areola, which may be shiny with peeling, flaky skin and may itch. A rash may be present with tiny blisters.
• Sore or cracked nipples that don’t respond to basic treatment. Onset of sore nipples after a period of comfortable feeding.
• Sore nipples throughout a feeding despite good positioning and latch. Burning or shooting pain in the breast/chest during or after a feeding.
• Nipple and/or breast/chest pain while pumping correctly, using a good electric pump and correctly sized breast flange. Do not freeze expressed milk until you have completed your course of medication and are symptom free. Freezing milk does not kill yeast.
• Current vaginal yeast infection or history of repeated vaginal yeast infections.

Some Signs of Thrush for Babies

• Baby’s mouth may have white patches surrounded by redness, or baby may have diaper rash (red or red with raised bumps). Baby is fussy, gassy and cranky, and may repeatedly pull off while feeding or refuse to feed.
• Your sexual partner may also have a yeast infection. Use condoms during sex to avoid cross infections with your partner. If anyone has symptoms of yeast, they should be seen by a healthcare provider and treated. Some healthcare providers will treat both parents and infant at the same time, even if one does not have symptoms.

Treatment for Yeast Infection

Your healthcare provider will prescribe an antifungal medication. Follow printed instructions exactly. Apply as directed to your breast/chest and baby’s mouth or diaper area. Call your healthcare provider if symptoms continue after finishing your medication. Speak with your healthcare provider concerning possible use of acidophilus tablets.

General Recommendations

• Air dry nipples and, if possible, expose them directly to the sun for a few minutes twice a day.
• Wear 100% cotton underpants and bras. Wash in very hot water and use bleach to kill yeast spores. Throw away disposable breast pads as soon as they are wet, or use cotton pads that can be bleached.
• Restrict alcohol, cheese, bread wheat products, sugar and honey which promote the growth of yeast.
• Boil items daily that come in contact with your breast/chest or baby’s mouth such as: breast shells, breast pump flanges, pacifiers, bottle nipples, teething toys, etc. for 20 minutes. If you are unable to boil items, soak items in a vinegar and water solution for 30 minutes.
• Thrush infection passes easily to other people. Avoid bathing with other members of the family. Avoid skin to skin contact while infected, wash hands frequently, and do not share towels.

Works Cited

Lawrence, Ruth A. & Lawrence, Robert M. “Breastfeeding, A Guide for the Medical Professional”, Ninth edition, ELSEVIER, 2022.

Wambach, Karen and Spencer, Becky “Breastfeeding and Human Lactation”, Sixth edition, Jones & Bartlett, 2021.

U.S. Department of Agruiculture, Plugged Ducts, Mastitis, and Thrush. Retrieved 06/01/24.