Thrush, caused by an overgrowth of the yeast Candida albicans, is a common fungal infection affecting both the mother’s nipples and the baby’s mouth. This infection often makes breastfeeding intensely painful, directly disrupting the milk production cycle. The discomfort causes mothers to reduce the frequency of nursing or pumping sessions. This reduction in milk removal signals the body to decrease supply. Recovering and increasing milk supply requires a dedicated approach focused on re-establishing demand and maintaining a clean environment to prevent a relapse.
Re-Establishing Demand: Maximizing Milk Removal Frequency
The foundation of increasing milk production relies on the principle of supply and demand, where frequent and effective milk removal signals the body to produce more. After a thrush infection, the primary goal is to return to consistently draining the breasts, ideally 8 to 12 times within a 24-hour period. This high frequency is necessary to stimulate prolactin receptors and rebuild the supply that diminished due to painful or reduced feeding sessions.
If the baby is still reluctant to feed due to residual soreness from oral thrush, or if the mother finds direct nursing too painful, a hospital-grade double electric breast pump should be used to mimic the baby’s removal efficiency. Power pumping can be incorporated once a day to simulate the “cluster feeding” behavior babies naturally use to boost supply. This technique involves pumping for 10 to 20 minutes, resting for 10 minutes, and repeating this cycle over a one-hour period.
Maximizing the drainage of the breast during each session is just as important as frequency for stimulating production. Hands-on pumping, which involves massaging and compressing the breast before and during pumping, helps to empty the milk ducts more thoroughly. Ensuring the pump flanges fit correctly is also necessary to prevent further nipple trauma and maximize milk transfer. If residual pain is still a factor, checking the baby’s latch or temporarily using a lower suction setting on the pump helps ensure a complete and comfortable emptying of the breast.
Supporting Supply: Nutritional and Lifestyle Strategies
While mechanical removal drives production, systemic factors like nutrition and stress management support the body’s capacity to generate milk. Maintaining adequate fluid intake is important, as breast milk is mostly water, and dehydration can impact overall body function. A balanced diet focusing on whole foods provides the necessary caloric and nutrient density to sustain the energy demands of lactation.
Stress management is another factor, as the release of stress hormones like cortisol can inhibit the release of prolactin, the hormone responsible for milk synthesis. Finding opportunities for rest and prioritizing sleep, even in short intervals, helps mitigate stress and support hormonal balance. Taking a “nursing vacation,” which involves minimizing outside commitments and focusing on rest and frequent feeding, can effectively reset the body’s supply signals.
Some mothers choose to incorporate galactagogues, which are foods or herbs thought to increase milk supply. These include common herbal options like fenugreek, blessed thistle, and brewer’s yeast. Foods like oatmeal, barley, and dark leafy greens are also often recommended for their nutritional profile. It is important to consult a healthcare provider or a lactation consultant before starting any new supplements, especially to discuss prescription options such as domperidone or metoclopramide, which require medical oversight.
Preventing Relapse: Essential Hygiene and Sanitation
Thrush is highly recurrent, and a relapse can quickly undo any progress made in increasing milk supply, making strict hygiene protocols necessary. The Candida fungus thrives in warm, moist environments, and can easily be passed back and forth between the mother and baby, or live on contaminated surfaces. Therefore, both mother and baby must be treated simultaneously to break the cycle of reinfection.
All pump parts that contact the breast or milk (flanges, valves, and bottles) must be thoroughly cleaned and sanitized after every use. This process involves washing the parts in hot, soapy water, rinsing them well, and then sterilizing them by boiling for 5 to 10 minutes or using a steam sanitizer. Anything the baby puts in their mouth, such as pacifiers, bottle nipples, and teething toys, must also be washed and boiled daily during and after treatment.
Personal hygiene measures further reduce the risk of reinfection. Breast pads should be changed frequently to prevent moisture from accumulating on the nipples. Using cotton pads without plastic liners allows the skin to breathe better. Washing hands thoroughly with soap and water before and after every nursing or pumping session, and after diaper changes, prevents the spread of the fungus.