How to Prevent or Cure Thrush While Breastfeeding or Bottle Feeding

When you are given antibiotics after giving birth, which mothers often are, it sets your blood sugar off balance, which can lead to thrush. Here are a few simple home remedies which can all but cure the dreaded affliction.

Thrush can be very painful for the breastfeeding mother and often new moms will be encouraged to give up breastfeeding because of thrush. In fact, you can cure it all by yourself.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Acidophilus

1. Cut the sugar. The first thing you must do is quit all white flour, sugar and anything containing sugar. Change your white bread to whole grain, your pasta to whole grain (or quit the pasta altogether). Cut out the candy, chocolate, soda. If you must have fruit juice, limit it to orange juice in the morning with some sort of protein.
   
   Babies on formula will be given the same amount of sugar as a breastfeeding baby, meaning, it's a lot of sugar. But our bodies have evolved to handle the sugar, otherwise why would it be our main food source? It is about balancing the sugar with healthy bacteria to keep the yeast from taking over. So if you are not breastfeeding, you don't need to worry about cutting sugar. If you are having yeast infections, though, give it a try.

2. Add Acidophilus. Go to the health food store and get anti-candida supplements. Acidophilus is the best one and it come in bottles for adults or babies. Chances are, if you cure your yeast problem your little baby will be cured as well. Follow the instructions for taking the supplement, which is harmless and is contained in yogurt as well. You could also eat a lot of plain yogurt to get the same result, but you have to eat it three times a day.
   
   You can give the Babydophilus to your baby as well (check with your doctor first) by mixing it in with a little bit of water. It takes good!

3. Wash your bras and garments regularly and if your baby uses a pacifier make sure it is sterilized after each use.
   
   This remedy is for people who do not want to use the regular medication prescribed for thrush. In my case, only dietary change made the thrush go away. I also had yeast infections on and off after giving birth and cutting the sugar and upping the Acidophilus made them go away as well.

Tips & Warnings

• Remember, this isn't a forever diet, just until the thrush goes away.
• If the thrush returns, go back on the diet.
• It takes a while for the body to balance the sugars and yeast. Don't be alarmed if your baby still has the white stuff in her/his mouth. Be patient. It will pass.
• Look for hidden sugars in things like cough syrup.
• Alchohol has a lot of sugar in it.