Babies Breastfeeding Breastfeeding Problems I Got Nipple Thrush From Breastfeeding And This Is What It Feels Like Oral thrush is very common. But did you know the fungal infection can also appear on the nipples? Here is everything you need to know about how the condition affects nursing mothers. By Kimberly Zapata Kimberly Zapata Twitter Website Kimberly Zapata is the associate editor for Parents. Her parenting, health, and wellness work has been published on numerous websites, including Health, Healthline, Parade, Washington Post, Huffington Post, Oprah, The Mighty, Mic, and Vice. She is also the founder and creator of Greater Than: Illness, an organization dedicated to empowering teens and young adults struggling with mental illness. And when she is not writing—or working—she is caring for her two children, aged 8 and 3. our editorial guidelines Published on September 17, 2019 Share Tweet Pin Email PhotoAlto/Anne-Sophie Bost/Getty Images. The first time my nipples bled my son was just a few days old. I assumed the cracking was normal. Hunter had a tongue tie, and my early scars were likely the result of a poor latch. But as the weeks went by, breastfeeding became even harder. My nipples hurt when my son was feeding and even when he was not. The fabric of my nursing bra felt like sandpaper grating against my skin. My nipples itched, terribly. There was more blood, and the act became excruciatingly painful. Every two hours, my son and I would cry. I tried to ignore the pain and suck it up. I figured the discomfort was temporary and my nipples needed to callous and harden. But by week four, I had had enough. I was ready to wean my son, at least until I saw the white patches. Soft, fuzzy-looking spots appeared on his tongue and the insides of his cheek. Turns out it was thrush. He—well, we—had thrush. Common Baby Conditions: When to Worry Thrush can appear in different parts of the body, but oral thrush is common, particularly in babies under 6 months. The fungal infection (called candidiasis) is caused by an overgrowth of the Candida fungus and affects about 75 percent of people. Vaginal thrush, which typically causes discharge, is also common. And then there's nipple thrush causing the skin to flake, crack, and shine, along with itching and pain—symptoms I was experiencing. Thrush of this kind can spread easily. If you're a breastfeeding mama, here's everything you need to know about nipple thrush. How is thrush passed from child to mother—and vice versa? It's normal to have Candida in the mouth and digestive system, but because the immune system of young children is undeveloped and immature, fungal overgrowths are common—and this overgrowth can result in thrush. It can then be passed from a baby's mouth to the mother. "Nursing mothers are more susceptible to this type of infection when they have cracks in their nipples due to nipple trauma," says Danika Severino Wynn, CNM, IBCLC, a midwife and lactation consultant with Maven, a telehealth startup based in New York. The Little Known Condition That Causes You to Feel Intense Sadness Before You Lactate The infection can also be passed through supplies, like breast pumps, pacifiers, and bottles. Mothers can also develop a Candida infection on their nipples while taking antibiotics or steroids. This infection can then be transferred to their babies while breastfeeding. What are the symptoms of nipple thrush? According to La Leche League, thrush is a likely culprit when two or more of these symptoms appear: Burning nipple painFlaking skin on the nipple or areolaShiny skin on the nipple or areolaPainful breasts without tender spots or sore lumpsStabbing pains in the breasts behind the areolaItching on or around the nipple and areola. How is nipple thrush treated? Thrush can be uncomfortable, but good news is it's totally treatable. Antifungal medications are often prescribed, particularly nystatin. Breastfeeding moms are usually instructed to use a topical cream, such as miconazole or clotrimazole. That said, it's important both Mom and Baby get on a treatment plan. "It's crucial that both the parent and infant are treated for thrush even if only one of them is experiencing symptoms," says Severino Wynn. "Treatment needs to continue for one to two weeks after symptoms resolve to ensure full resolution of thrush." 16 Things You Didn't Know About Breastfeeding You'll also need to clean pacifiers, bottles, and breast pump parts thoroughly. "Make sure to wash the nipples and bottles in hot water or in the dishwasher after each use," says Preeti Parikh, M.D., a board-certified pediatrician, assistant clinical professor in the pediatrics department at Mount Sinai School of Medicine, and an American Academy of Pediatrics fellow and spokesperson. "If they're not clean, that can also cause thrush and/or reinfect baby with the fungal infection." Should you continue breastfeeding with thrush? When it comes to nursing with thrush, it isn't only possible, it is completely and totally safe. "It is very important to continue breastfeeding," says Jackie Stone, M.D., an OB-GYN with Maven. But make sure to consult with your doctor about whether or not you should continue breastfeeding when using any specific medication or wait a bit after applying a topical cream. "It's dependent on the type of topical antifungal and if it can impact the health status of your infant. Usually it doesn't require waiting to breastfeed but it's unfortunately not a one size fits all answer," says Severino Wynn. And keep in mind, it takes time to completely resolve a Candida infection, so pain, discomfort, and/or itching may continue for weeks. As such, Dr. Stone suggests seeing a lactation consultant. And La Leche League suggests you "offer your baby short, frequent feedings, beginning on the least painful breast." Pumping is also an option to consider. Listen to Parents "That New Mom Life" podcast for expert advice on breastfeeding, the emotional highs and lows of motherhood, sleepless nights, and more! Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit