This recipe is specifically for breastfeeding moms battling bleeding, cracked nipples with thrush (the white itchy stuff on the nipples that doesn’t want to leave). Read on to find the secret to instant relief for cracked breastfeeding nipples.
Read before you spend $40-$80 for Newman’s ointment at a compounding pharmacy!!!!
Let’s define Thrush, and how getting rid of this is the secret to instant relief for cracked breastfeeding nipples
Mayo Clinic defines Thrush as a fungal infection caused by overgrowth of candida albicans (yeast). This overgrowth of yeast begins in baby’s mouth (warm and moist environment) and is transferred to your nipples during breastfeeding. If not treated then this back and forth cycle of re-infection can ensue. So what’s the secret to instant relief of cracked breastfeeding nipples ? Read on.
Signs and Symptoms of Thrush in your breastfed baby,
-fussy and irritable during feedings
-white flaky looking lesions might be viewed on tongue, inside of mouth, gums etc.
SUPER IMPORTANT- Do NOT treat your newborn for oral thrush without consulting their pedicatrician.
So, when your baby has these symptoms it is time to make an appointment with their pediatric medical provider. There is an imbalance of flora in the mouth and may require oral medication (Nystatin or gentian violet) or further testing, this condition in a newborn is not something to treat at home with things from the cabinet.
Signs and symptoms of Thrush on breastfeeding mother’s nipples
-Shiny, very red, itchy, burning nipples that may/may not have white flaky lesions or even tiny blisters on the nipple.
-Cracked Nipples
-Painful breastfeeding (during and after as well). This is usually in both breasts since baby usually feeds on both sides. This pain felt sharp and shooting in my experience.
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The secret to cracked breastfeeding nipples …it’s a homemade cream
Firstly, make sure that the pain does not resolve with different positioning or latching…sometimes a shallow latch or the positioning causes the pain. Always good to contact a lactation consultant, you can find one in your area HERE they are wonderful in helping with latch and positioning. Once you exhaust all of those options to no avail, then try this cream. Your OB might prescribe a compounded cream called Newman’s Nipple Ointment. Let me tell you it DOES work, but most insurance will not cover it and it cost me about $40 a small jar, I have heard some cash prices as high as $80 though, for a TINY jar I might add. You can easily make this cream at home with 3 simple ingredients and for a fraction of the cost.
What you need from your local pharmacy or grocery store:
–Polysporin Ointment (this is an antibiotic ointment that will help keep those bad bacterias out of the cracks in the nipples.
–Hydrocortisone ointment (1%) this helps with the redness, itching and inflammation
–Miconazole 2% cream this is an anti-fungal and will stop the spread of the candida. You could also use Clotrimazole 1% as well. One or the other, not both.
Directions: –
-Squirt a spoonful of each ointment/cream into a small 1 ounce jar (here) with a tight lid. I use a coffee stirer to mix the ointments all together.
-Swipe a good slather of this cream onto nipples after baby breastfeeds. If you have this ointment of your nipples and baby wants to breastfeed then you can wipe off before feeding your baby.
-If the breasts/nipples feel hot or on fire after breastfeeding, try these ice pack inserts in your nursing/sleep bra. The help with the inflammation and pain.
LET’S TALK PREVENTION of Cracked breastfeeding nipple
First of all the candida thrives in areas that are warm and moist (mouth, groin, armpit, vagina). So keeping these areas dry is very important in preventing thrush.
-Wash nipples with cold clean water after feedings and let nipples air dry.
-Apply a clean cotton or disposable nursing pad (re-using dirty nursing pads spreads the candida and keeps the area moist). Change pads often if leaking occurs frequently.
-Wash hands with anti-bacterial soap after feedings as to not spread the yeast to different areas of the body or to anyone else (it is contagious)
–Sterilize pump parts, pacifiers and baby bottle parts after every feeding during thrush. Simple soap will not kill the yeast. Sterilizing is simple in this microwavable tub. Just wash parts with soap and water, rinse and toss in this sterlizer and then blast it in the microwave.
-Wash clothes in contact with your nipples (bras, cloth nursing pads) and baby onesies, cloth diapers etc in HOT water and bleach.
-Consider eliminating yeast from your diet (this can be difficult to do as yeast is in alot of food).
-Consider a Candida Cleanse. After 6 months of dealing with nipple thrush with my second born, my sister (also a chiropractor) suggested a candida cleanse. After breastfeeding two babies the thrush begins to test your sanity. So this cleanse was kind of a last ditch effort, but it worked. My thrush was gone from that point on, as was my yeast infections, my sugar cravings and IBS. I still do this cleanse every couple years which is usually when my sugar cravings start to creep back up on me. The cleanse helps me and I feel amazing after, no sugar cravings whatsoever. So it’s something to try if you’re desperate enough.
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