Thrush--GSE advice?

[@llli*mom.of.a.few]

I posted another thread about the latch problems I've been having with my now 3-1/2 week old on my right breast, and now I've developed thrush on that side. I haven't seen any signs of thrush in DD3's mouth or on my other nipple, but the right nipple is itchy and sore. I called my midwife last night and got the on-call midwife who called in a Diflucan script for me, but she only prescribed one dose. I KNOW that nipple thrush needs way more Diflucan than that!

I've seen around here that some of you mamas have used Grapefruit Seed Extract for thrush. Is it better internally, externally or both? I do have inverted nipples, and that makes it difficult to get something all over the nipple externally. Even my pump (and I'm exclusively pumping that side again now) doesn't pull my nipple out all the way, so I don't even have a short window of time where the whole nipple is out to apply something to it.

Another question: I want to feed the pumped milk to my baby so I don't end up with oversupply again, but how likely is it that she'll get thrush from the milk? Edit: I have enough frozen from my previous oversupply that I could pump and dump.

[@llli*LLLJessica]

Bumping this one up for you hoping there's moms with GSE advice for you.

Are you still just experiencing thrush symptoms on the one side? Usually you'll have symptoms on both sides - but maybe you've just caught it early enough. If it's thrush you'll need to treat both sides and baby. If not you'll just keep passing it back and forth.

Will your MW see you in person to maybe get a longer script? Also they could rule out any other medical reason for the itchy soreness.
You could also call your babies Dr and get it treated that route too.

[@llli*mom.of.a.few]

I'm nursing + occasional pumping on one side and exclusively pumping on the other side for the past four days. The side I'm exclusively pumping is the one with thrush. It is still possible, I know, to transfer the thrush to the other side with the pump, so I'm being very careful about boiling the pump parts before pumping the non-thrush side. I started suspecting thrush 2-3 days ago, but it was pretty much confirmed yesterday. I will be calling my mw tomorrow as the office was closed due to the holiday today, but I was hoping that I might be able to use GSE either instead of or in addition to Diflucan, and I noticed that I can treat the baby with GSE as well. I still want to hear from mamas who have used GSE successfully!

[@llli*LLLEme]

Hi there!! - sorry you're battling thrush!!! Hopefully we can get you some treatments to help get rid of it - for good

There doesn't seem to be any literature (that I can find) from LLL has with regard to the use of GSE but Dr Jack Newman talks about it here ... I know many moms have used, and found his suggestions to be helpful.

THe Breastfeeding Answer book also suggests Gentian Violet as an option for treatment - of both mother and baby. This pdf file talks about the way to go about using it.

Good luck - let us know what works and what your mw says

[@llli*mammaof2]

Everything that you need to know about using GSE is here.

GSE was the only thing that worked for us after battling (or never getting rid of) thrush several times. I continue to take a GSE capsule daily for preventative maitenance, and we have been thrush free for nearly a year.

[@llli*jenniebean5]

I used GSE orally (2 capsules 3-4times a day) and in a solution (10-15drops per 1oz distilled water) on my nipples after each feeding. My little one took Nystatin liquid. I took Diflucan for 2 weeks.

I also put 1/2 cup of apple cider vinegar in every load of wash and used burp clothes and bath towels only once.

I also took probiotics once a day and gave my son infant probiotics twice a day.

We haven't had any thrush for a few months now. Good luck!

[@llli*goldiecar]

I have to agree with a couple of the PP's. I took both the pill form, and put the liquid version on my nipples. It really worked.

One suggestion... Don't drink the liquid version. It is AWFUL tasting :P

[@llli*mom.of.a.few]

Thanks, mamas! I talked to a mw (not mine, but same practice) and she said it sounded like classic thrush. She prescribed All Purpose Nipple Ointment to start off with. Since Dr. Newman recommends using it with GSE anyway, I bought some and started putting the diluted liquid on my nipples yesterday and started taking the capsule form today. I won't get the APNO until tomorrow, since it needed to be mailed from the compounding pharmacy, but I figured it wouldn't hurt to start the GSE earlier.

I'm treating both of my nipples, even though I think there is only thrush on one side. Does anyone know if my baby can get thrush from the pumped milk from the side with thrush? I will still try to get DD3 treated, but I'm curious.

[@llli*LLLJessica]

Originally Posted by @llli*mom.of.a.few

I'm treating both of my nipples, even though I think there is only thrush on one side. Does anyone know if my baby can get thrush from the pumped milk from the side with thrush? I will still try to get DD3 treated, but I'm curious.

She'd get it from your nipples before she got it from pumped milk. Usually the yeast is external rather than internal (although it can be both!!). The general thought is that while you (nursing dyad) are being treated using your milk pumped milk is not a concern. Freezing doesn't kill yeast, just makes it dormant so it's a little iffy if you'd want to use that milk for later. A healthy baby should be able to take the milk no problem is the idea though.

Here's some more info on thrush also I have thrush. Can I give baby my expressed milk?

[@llli*mom.of.a.few]

Ok, so I've been using the GSE for three weeks now and the APNO for almost three weeks. My left side is still thrush-free, and my right side still has thrush. I started nursing my now-6 1/2 week old on the right side as well, and it hurts like crazy throughout the whole feed. The left side hurts horribly on latch, but is fine during the feed if she's latched well. I'm waiting to talk to a m/w about what to do now.