If you have any of the following symptoms, you may have a fungal infection:

• red and sore nipples;
• nipple damage;
• no external symptoms;
• white dots in the nipple skin folds;
• occasionally a burning chest pain, especially during and after feeding.

In a fungal infection, the nipple may be affected, but the milk canal in the breast may also be infected. And since your baby’s mouth is in direct contact with the nipple, it may also appear in the mouth of your child (thrush).

• Your baby has irritated mucous membranes in the mouth and throat cavity, with a white slough often visible.
• Your baby behaves differently, for example, restless, sleeping shorter;
• Your child refuses to attach to the breast or repeatedly releases the breast while eating.
• Your baby’s lips are pearlescent;
• Your baby makes a clicking sound while eating;
• Your baby is suffering from diaper rashes.

• due to a weakened immune system / stress;
• due to the pregnancy and / or childbirth;
• disturbed or unbalanced sugar levels;
• through diabetes mellitus;
• wrong diet (too rich in sugar and refined products, alcohol);
• due to antibiotics;
• due to hormonal medications (including the contraceptive pill).

Contamination can also be a cause. You and your baby can contaminate each other again. If you have a vaginal fungal infection, you can easily infect yourself. Your partner can also carry the fungus.

There are several treatments

Medication

The GP can prescribe a fungicide. It is important that both you and your baby are treated because you continue to contaminate each other over and over. Even if one of you does not seem to have fungal infection, our obstetricians strongly recommend this. Treatment of the mother should be continued up to 7-10 days after the pain has disappeared. If the fungal infection is very stubborn or if you suffer from severe chest pain, your doctor may also prescribe a stronger drug.

Hygiene

Candida Albicans is a strong yeast that can survive in different environments. Therefore, it is important to maintain a high level of hygiene, and to clean or avoid as many sources of infection as possible.

Good advice from our midwives:
• Wash your hands frequently, especially before and after feeding and after changing a diaper;

• Let the nipples air-dry after feeding.

• Damp nipple compresses are an ideal environment for the fungus, so change them as often as possible;

• Wear a clean bra every day;

• Avoid family members with fungal infection as much as possible. Make sure they get treatment, too.

• Use as little soap as possible, or only sour soap; fungi thrive badly in an acidic environment;

• Boil soothers daily and clean toys that touch your baby’s mouth.

• Clean your breast pump every day: Boil the parts that can be boiled well.