Thrush is a yeast infection inside a baby’s mouth. Sometimes babies pass this infection to their mothers during breastfeeding. This can cause a mother to have a yeast infection on her nipples, which may be very painful. Sometimes thrush is not serious and it may even clear up on its own within a few days. However, if a baby has a severe case of thrush that is not clearing up, both the baby and his or her mother should receive treatment as they could pass the infection back and forth to each other.
One symptom of thrush in a baby is white patches that resemble cottage cheese inside of his or her mouth. Babies may cry or fuss during breastfeeding as these white patches can be painful or uncomfortable if they are severe. Babies with thrush may also have a bright red diaper rash that appears raised. The rash will have a distinct border around it and there may be bright red spots around the edge. Maternal symptoms of thrush include nipples that itch or burn and have a shiny red or pink appearance. The nipples may also crack. Mothers of babies with thrush may also develop a vaginal yeast infection.
If a mother suspects that her baby has a severe case of thrush, she should consult with her doctor and her baby’s pediatrician. The doctor may prescribe a prescription antifungal ointment for the mother to apply to her nipples after breastfeeding and a second antifungal to apply to the baby’s mouth after a feeding. The antifungal should be applied to both mother and baby after breastfeeding so as to ensure that it remains in the affected areas for the longest amount of time possible. If the mother is in severe pain she might consider talking to her doctor about pain relief.
Mothers of babies with thrush should make sure to wash and sterilize anything that has come into contact with their nipples, breast milk or babies’ mouths. This includes the parts of their breast pumps, bras, clothing, baby toys, bottle nipples and pacifiers. Sterilization is important because it ensures that mother and child to not accidentally re-expose themselves to thrush.