Breastfeeding Complications: Fungal Infections of the Newborn

Fungal infections involving the breasts are common in women who are breastfeeding an infant, especially infants that may be subject to chronic infection. Most notably, newborns who develop Oral thrush, also known as simply "Thrush", will pass fungal infections to the breasts of feeding mothers, leading to complications in both Mom and baby. As a fungal infection of the mouth, many breastfeeding women are alarmed at the presence of thrush in a newborn and the concurrent fungal infection symptoms of the breasts. While most common in the first few weeks following birth, these types of fungal infections can impact an individual at any age. As a new mom, recognizing the symptoms of Oral thrush in the newborn, as well as the symptoms of fungal infections of the breasts, may provide for a more effective treatment plan when working with your newborn's pediatrician and in caring for the breasts during breastfeeding sessions.

Candida, a fungal organism, is commonly found in the human body and is not a foreign organism to the mouth neither of a newborn nor within a breastfeeding woman. However, when overgrowth of candida fungus occurs, known as Candidiasis, a newborn may develop an oral fungal infection known as Oral thrush and pass this infection, commonly, to the breastfeeding mother. This overgrowth of candida fungi, in the newborn, is commonly attributed to a lack of healthy oral bacteria and may even be more prevalent in those infants who suffer from chronic bacterial infections requiring the use of antibiotics on recurring basis. These children not only suffer from health complications of their own but may pass this overgrowth of Candida to the breastfeeding mother resulting in health complications in Mom.