home
Posted By: MelissaB Yeast Infection impact on Milk? - 01/27/04 10:07 PM
I went today to see the doctor because I thought I might have a yeast infection. The doctor thought so as well and prescribed Nystatin cream. Today is Tuesday and I started using the cream today, I think I will get to keep my baby boy about this time next week. I wanted to start trying to bf him immediately, but now I am concerned about him contracting it too. Is a week long enough to get rid of the yeast so he won't have any problems? Has anyone experienced this? The doctor told me that if I am still experiencing symptoms without any relief to not start bf Troy, but to seek medical attention, (yeah like my military insurance is going to be happy about me seeking medical attention in a foreign country when it isn't life, limb or sight!)

Will this cause my milk to decrease? It doesn't seem to be as much today, but perhaps I am paranoid!

I would appreciate any insight you might have to share! I have no idea what caused this, perhaps just the increased stress I am under right now, (and I am partially in denial about!) <img src="http://www.asklenore.com/ubbthreads/images/icons/smile.gif" alt="" />

Melissa B.
Posted By: owlhaven Re: Yeast Infection impact on Milk? - 01/27/04 10:31 PM
Well, with your son being older, you may be transitioning gradually to nursing anyway. But I personally would not let yeast stop me from trying to nurse. Some things that will help (besides the Nystatin) is to take acidophilus every day, boil your pump parts after using, air drying your nipples after pumping and decreasing the sugar in your diet. Yeast LOVES sugar. Hope that helps!!
Posted By: MelissaB Re: Yeast Infection impact on Milk? - 01/28/04 03:36 PM
Cut down on my sugar intake? Yikes! <img src="http://www.asklenore.com/ubbthreads/images/icons/smile.gif" alt="" /> I probably love sugar about as much as yeast does! If that is what it takes then I'll definately do it. I was boiling my breast shields and bottles for a few minutes about once a day, but my LLL leader told me that her book says to boil for 20 minutes, so I started that last night. I'll start taking the acidophilus today.

I feel much better after your comment that you wouldn't let it stop youfrom bf, since I was feeling this way but being a first time mommy I didn't want to cause harm. So I'll follow your suggestions and hope and pray for the best.

Thank you for all of your help!

Melissa B.
Posted By: Nona Re: Yeast Infection impact on Milk? - 01/29/04 04:37 PM
one thing that I felt helped me alot was putting apple cider vinager on my nipples and areolas after pumping. And also rubbing it on the horn where I had contact with it after pumping. This is the only thing that cleared me up. It does stink .. but if you let your nipples air dry with the vinager on them.. the smell will be gone when dry. Also... when taking a shower.. .pinch up your nipple. Do you have white residue on them? This is old milk. sugary milk. Take your damp wash cloth with your nipple pinched up and rub it back and forth to get the milk off the nipple and out of your creases. This can be a BIG cuplrit. You don't really realize its there until you shower and it softens it all up. Its like sluffing off of old skin.. but its old milk
Posted By: MelissaB Re: Yeast Infection impact on Milk? - 01/29/04 08:41 PM
Hi Nona,

I thought that the white residue was some of the yeast, I have been cleaning it off. I read somewhere that when cleaning your clothing to put a cup of vinegar in the wash, so I adapted that idea to clean my breast shields and bottles, (I put the vinegar in the water that I have been boiling my things in usually daily.) I have been using regular white vinegar, but if it is better to use apple cider vinegar I'll get some! I thought about putting it on my nipples, but I didn't know if that would l do anything to my milk. I don't want any sour tasting milk! LOL! I'll start using the vinegar on the breast shields each time after I use them, that way I can continue to boil them daily, but it should help cut down on spreading any infection.

Thank you so much for your tips! I can hardly believe that this time next week I'll have my baby boy! Yikes! I want this infection gone!

Melissa B.
© Ask Lenore Forums