Help! Thrush and pumping

[lkadi]

My DS is 8 weeks old - I'm returning to work in two weeks, at which point my DH will stay home with him FT. We've had MANY issues with bfing from the get go (tongue tie, high palate, painful latch, refusing to nurse, oversupply/forceful letdown, the list goes on). So many issues in fact, that I didn't even really notice that we both had thrush until everything else had cleared up a bit, and I was still in pain, he was still having trouble. Gentian violet didn't work, so he's now on diflucan (I've been on it as well). My pain is gone, his tongue seems freer or possibly even free of the white yeasties now. But I won't finish my diflucan until a couple of days before returning to work, and he won't finish his until after I'm already back.

I don't yet have a freezer stash for emergencies and have avoided pumping recently b/c of the thrush. What should I do? I REALLY don't want DH to have to give him formula in an emergency, and feel very nervous about where things stand. Should I create a freezer stash now for emergency, then have DH give DS only very freshly pumped (like, the day or couple of days before) milk while I slowly try to replace the freezer stash with milk that I pumped after the treatment for thrush is complete? Or should milk that I pump now be okay b/c I've been symptom free for a little while?

Thanks in advance for your help!

[want2breatfeed]

Hi,

I had thrush with my first baby. Why dont you want to pump due to thrush???? Why arent you breastfeeding now?

I pumped exclusively for my first baby for six months, straight through the thrush. My doctor told me to nurse while I had thrush and (she) but it was so painful I couldnt take it anymore.

With my second baby now I came down with mastitis. I couldnt believe it. I ended up pumping for one month straight. Just a few days ago I didnt have time to pump so I put my baby boy on the breast. Immediately after nursing I was having pain still (vasospasm it is called due to nipple trauma/stress) and I ended up trying a rice sock in the micromave for three minutes. I applied it to the nipple (adjust the heat accordingly) and the pain subsided significantly. You have to apply the heat IMMEDIATELY after nursing.

Anyhows, Im not sure if I answered any of your questions but If you want to email me please do. Karen

[@llli*mom22girlz]

I have a similar issue! I am pumping to build up a supply in the freezer and have recently realized that my lo and I have thrush. I don't know if the bm in the freezer is safe to give my dd. I read that bm pumped while being treated for thrush is okay as long as it is fresh/refridgerated, but shouldn't be frozen (I'm not sure where I read this... it doesn't seem right to me, so I'd love to get more accurate info!) Since I didn't know we had thrush, I don't know when we got it... how do I know which bm is okay and which should be thrown out!?!?! Should I throw out everything in the freezer?
Hoping to hear an answer!

[@llli*still.here]

If you are going to give the milk to your baby in the next day or so it's ok to pump, but if you are trying to build a freezer stash to give later you definitely want to wait until you are both clear. The yeast will be in the milk and you don't want to risk re-infecting the baby with the milk. I pumped while I had thrush, but I always gave it to her the next day.

If you are pumping with thrush it's also important to sterilize the pump parts and bottle parts every day. I boiled mine for 20 minutes every day while I had thrush.

hth and good luck getting rid of the evil yeast.

[carpentergirl]

If you have thrush, you will pass it back and forth with your frozen stash. I am sorry. I think part of the difficulty is that the pump parts are in direct contact with the nipple.
Have you considered also that everything that touches your nipple needs to be washed every day? bras. t-shirts, ect and just soap and water isn't going to be enough. You need some white vinigar to throw into the wash.

[lkadi]

I am bfing now (in answer to first response), I'm just not pumping. However, in order to return to work and continue my DS getting just breastmilk, I will need to pump.

I am washing everything I wear, everything that DS dribbles milk or spit up on. I think we've got the treatment side of things under control at this point.

I'm still leaning toward pumping a tiny freezer stash in the meantime. I'd rather contend with thrush for a little longer, if something comes up that prevents DS from getting milk from the day before when I'm back at work in two weeks, than have to supplement with formula.

[carpentergirl]

I thinks thats a great idea. scalding your milk might help with the thrush. Let me double check ok?

[carpentergirl]

Yup it does. read at the bottom of this lengthy article! http://www.kellymom.com/bf/concerns/...ssed-milk.html
Do you have a bottle warmer. You can scald with a bottle warmer before freezing. You will need to add more water to get the temp up to 170 degrees.

[@llli*babygurl]

I returned to work when my lo was 6weeks w/o a freezer stash. It was very hard, but it can be done!!! Stay encouraged....

[@llli*lilkins]

we were battling thrush also, and I understand you concern for returning to work and not having a stash. Before the thrush we had both been sick off & on, I had a couple of procedures that I had to pump and dump for 24 hours so needless to say my stash went quickly. Then as we both got better she then was eating much more but I started my period and it caused a little dip in my supply. I have been going for 2 months now without any back up, at the beginning I was trying really hard, I would pump after nursing every time, but it seemed I could never get ahead I always had just enough. I finally stopped working so hard and just went with it. I pump 3 times a day and if I have extra then I will store it, if not I know that she has all that she needs for the next day. I have never supplemented her with anything. We are now starting solids! Good luck and don't stress, it will all work out!