By Raisa Weisspapir
Q.: I am 10 weeks post-partum and have had a breast yeast infection for 8 weeks now. My baby daughter has had thrush in her mouth. We have been given all kinds of prescription medications and ointments with no relief. Breastfeeding is horribly painful. However, I don’t want to give up nursing. My mom highly recommends homeopathy. Please help.
A.: Did you know that Breast Yeast infections are the most common condition during pregnancy, after delivery, and while nursing? I have found in my practice that for some reason breast Yeast infections are not getting much attention as opposed to vaginal yeast infections. But it’s actually the second cause in nursing women of mastitis (breast infection).
Origin of Yeast infection
Yeast infection (called thrush when it occurs in the mouth) is caused by a fungus called Candida Albicans. It thrives in warm, dark, moist environments, such as the mucus membranes of the mouth and vagina, the diaper area, skin folds, bra pads, and on persistently wet nipples.
Are breast Yeast infections or mouth thrush contagious?
Yes, during breast-feeding, a yeast infection or thrush can be passed back and forth between the mother's breasts and the baby’s mouth.
A newborn baby can be infected with yeast during delivery if the mother has a vaginal yeast infection. The baby then can pass the infection to the mother during breast-feeding through the cracked nipples.
When to suspect breast Candida:
If your nipples are extremely sore, cracked, itching, burning, red, or blistery.
If you experience shooting pains in your breasts while nursing or afterwards
If your baby has oral thrush (white, cottage-cheese-like patches on the tongue and sides of the mouth) or a diaper rash
If you are taking, or have just finished taking, a course of antibiotics.
What causes Candida:
Taking of antibiotics, steroids and birth control pills
Hormonal changes during pregnancy, after giving a birth, and during menopause
Certain foods. For example, consuming too many sweets.
How I can be helped
Yeast infections might be very persistent. Through my 20 years of treating patients I have discovered tremendous value of homeopathy in the successful correction of candida.
Depending on the person, I use a combination of special diet, homeopathic treatment, and natural anti fungal medicinal herbs. Here are just a few examples:
Oregano oil destroys candida. A study compared the anti candida effect of oregano oil to that of caprylic acid shows that oregano oil is over one hundred times stronger than caprylic acid
Also the health of the digestive system should be addressed. It is important to promote the growth of friendly flora in the intestines that protect your body from getting sick. It is important to use probiotics of the highest quality.
Garlic is another wonderful natural medicine
Grapefruit seed extract has strong anti fungal properties too.
Homeopathic remedies such as: Phytolacca, Borax, Rhust Toxicodendron, etc
How Susan got rid of deep-seated ductal breast Yeast infection in two weeks
When I met Susan in my office in March 2008 she was complaining on excruciating pain in both breasts while nursing. After giving a birth to a pretty baby girl a month ago, she has been diagnosed with breast yeast infection. Her baby girl had been suffering from thrush (yeast in her mouth). In spite of taking strong anti fungal medications she didn’t feel good.
I prescribed for her special homeopathic remedies, individually compounded homeopathic cream, acidophilus of the highest quality and recommended a special diet. In a week she was able to nurse almost without any problems, her cracks were completely healed. In two weeks Susan and her baby were perfectly fine. Breastfeeding became a pleasure for both!
Helpful Tips
Expose your nipples to sunlight for several minutes a few times a day. Yeast organisms hate sunlight.
Change cotton nursing pads after each feeding
Wear cotton bras and wash them daily in very hot water. Dry your bras after washing in the sunlight.
Thoroughly wash your breast pump in a hot water
*This information is not to be a substitute for professional medical advice. You should not use this information to diagnose or treat any health problem or disease without consulting with a qualified healthcare provider. Please consult your healthcare provider with any questions or if your symptoms persist.
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