How to Get Rid of Breastfeeding Thrush
When breastfeeding your baby causes pain, you may have breastfeeding thrush. Follow these steps to end the discomfort.
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Instructions
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Determine if you have breastfeeding thrush. Thrush can be extremely painful and felt during nursing when something comes in contact with your nipples, or it can manifest itself as shooting pains deep in your breast. Nipples may be cracked, sore, flaky or have blisters. These are all signs of thrush.
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Check to see if your baby has thrush. You may see white bumps that don't wipe off like milk in her mouth. Thrush may also cause your baby to have a diaper rash.
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3
Consult your doctor for medication that may help get rid of breastfeeding thrush.
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Buy some gentian violet at a drugstore. Coat your nipples with the purple liquid twice a day. You don't have to wash it off before nursing your baby. The gentian violet will come off on her but will help clear up the thrush in her mouth.
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Wash all of your bras in hot water with bleach. Breastfeeding thrush can live through the wash otherwise. Wash all of your baby's toys and anything else that comes in contact with her mouth. You will need to boil any pacifiers or bottle nipples.
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Use a mixture of 1 tbsp. of vinegar and 1 cup of water to rinse your nipples after every nursing session to help with the pain. Use a fresh swab to apply the solution each time.
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Continue with these steps for 2 weeks after the breastfeeding thrush has seemed to fade. It is hard to get rid of breastfeeding thrush, and it may come back if treatment is ended too quickly.
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Tips & Warnings
Gentian violet is a dark purple color and will stain anything it comes in contact with. It will stain you and your baby's skin but will wear off after a few days. Stains on clothing will not wash off even in hot water, so be careful when applying.
