By Jasna Cameron

Nothing is more adorable than a tiny baby in her mother's arms. As a proud mommy, you notice every fold in your baby's skin and can read her facial expressions like a book. You will also immediately notice if your baby develops white patches on her tongue, lips, or inside her mouth. White patches in the mouth often indicate that your baby has thrush. Read on to learn more about why thrush develops and what you can do to treat and prevent it.

What does thrush look like?

Upon close inspection, you may notice some odd, white patches, almost cottage cheese-like in appearance, or a white coating on the roof of your baby's mouth, cheeks, gums, or tongue, or even a white film on her lips.

If you see this, don't panic, as it is more often than not commonplace milk residue, which, unlike thrush, can be easily wiped clean with your finger or a soft cloth.

However, if you notice these white patches combined with a red nappy rash, raised bumps, and additional fussiness during feeding, it may point to the onset of thrush.

What is thrush?

Oral thrush or oral candidiasis is a fungal infection that is not harmful but may lead to a painful mouth or reduce your baby's ability to suck. In addition, as thrush can be easily transferred from mom to baby and vice versa, infected breastfeeding moms may suffer from red or cracked nipples and flaky skin around the areola, in addition to sharp stabbing pains in their breasts during and between the feeds.

Thrush is caused by a common type of yeast called Candida. Candida usually lives on the skin and inside the body, in places such as the mouth, throat, gut, and vagina, without causing any problems, but Candida infections occur when it grows out of control. Some babies can pick it up while traveling through the birth canal, while premature babies, low birth weight babies, and those who have had to take antibiotics are also very susceptible to it, as it tends to flare up when the immune system is low.

How do you treat thrush?

Thrush is quite common during the early months of life. It can be treated with readily available medications such as miconazole, clotrimazole, and nystatin, an antifungal drug that your doctor will likely prescribe. In addition, there are over-the-counter mouth gels for babies who are older than four months old. More serious cases of thrush can be treated with a drug known as Diflucan, which is administered via a dropper directly onto your baby's tongue. Other methods for treating thrush include:

• Using antifungal creams and lotions, which are suitable for treating a mother's cracked, red, irritated nipples before and after feedings and can also be used on your baby's bottom should the overgrowth of yeast aggravate a diaper rash.

• Using Gentian Violet, an over-the-counter antifungal that can be applied to a mother’s nipples, but be aware that it stains easily. However, in recent years, it is not as commonly used as there are safer options on the market.

• Practicing good hygiene, especially when dealing with a case of thrush. Ensure that you wash your hands after breastfeeding, as well as after administering medication, or after changing your baby's diaper.

Thrush can take up to 4 to 5 weeks to clear up if left untreated, but it can resolve in two weeks with treatment. Some tough cases may take up to 8 weeks, though.

How do you prevent thrush?

Stringent hygiene practices are essential in preventing the spread of thrush. Frequent and meticulous hand washing before and after feeds and diaper changes is crucial. You must be careful and wash your hands even when handling burp cloths, clothing, and towels that may have been in contact with your baby's mouth and bottom. Additionally, ensure that you thoroughly sanitize bottles, pacifiers, and pump parts. Other items that come into contact with high-risk areas, such as pacifiers, teething toys, and nipple shields, should be boiled for about 20 minutes daily.

Wear cotton bras and tank tops as they allow your skin to breathe. Also, always dry your nipples between feeds. Try airing your nipples as often as possible, exposing them directly to the sun once a day for a few minutes. Change nipple pads and shields regularly if you have to wear them. All of this will help prevent overgrowth. It will also stop the transfer of the thrush back and forth between you and your baby.

It is also advisable to use washable or reusable nipple pads instead of disposable ones, which often have a plastic backing. The reusable ones are typically made of cotton or similar breathable material, allowing proper drying, and can be easily sanitized when they go through a hot water wash.

As thrush infection is easily transferable, it is advisable to have separate towels for each family member.

It would also help if you washed all the linen in hot water, using bleach to kill the spores, which must be allowed to dry well.

Lastly, you can try changing your diet, avoiding alcohol, sugar, and even honey, cheese, and wheat products, which all stimulate yeast growth and may provoke the onset of thrush.

Conclusion

If your baby develops thrush, the most important thing is not to panic and follow the advice of your health practitioner on how to treat it and prevent it. In addition, maintain your routine by following good hygiene practices, and continue breastfeeding your baby.