Having a Baby

As if you didn’t have enough to think about already!

If your baby is a bit grizzly and has a pimply rash on its bottom that just won’t go away or has white spots in her mouth unfortunately these are signs that your bub is suffering from a baby yeast infection.

What causes a baby yeast infection?

There are four ways that a yeast infection can be caused in babies;

1) Via the birth canal;

If Mom has a yeast infection in her urinary tract then there is a good chance that baby will pick it up as it is going through the birth canal.

2) When drinking from Mom;

If Mom has a Candida outbreak then it is possible that she will transmit the infection to baby while feeding. Baby can also pass the infection back to Mom this way.

3) Cleanliness;

One of the great things about modern diapers is that they are designed to be leak-proof. It is this feature that means that parents often tend to leave diapers on for longer than they should – I know that I did! Unfortunately the damp, warm environment created is ideal for the fungi to thrive in. When changing diapers try and wipe from front to back – especially for girls. When bathing take care to clean the lower area thoroughly.

4) Medication;

There are loads of children who have to take antibiotics, some from the time that they are born. Unfortunately these are a ‘necessary evil’ and will only be prescribed if absolutely essential. They do come with their own set of minor side effects, one of which is that baby may become more susceptible to a baby yeast infection. If your baby does need to go on antibiotics then ask your health care provider about a specialist infant probiotic.

Mothers that are on antibiotics also face the same risk so don’t neglect to take extra precautions and supplements.

If the rash that your baby has is treated and gets noticeably better by the next diaper change, then there is a good chance that you have not dealt with a baby yeast infection, but if it continues to get worse, spreads to cover the genitals and lower tummy or takes on a scalloped edge with or without small white spots, then there is a good chance that Candida is the cause.

Any sign of white spots in the mouth or any rash that does not clear up should be checked out by a medical professional.

What next?

Your doctor will be able to tell you immediately whether your baby has a baby yeast infection or not. He may take a small sample of the skin – it is just a wee scrape, baby won’t even feel it – and send it off to the lab for testing. If this comes back positive he will probably prescribe an anti-fungal medicine.

Things that you can do to relieve your baby yeast infection symptoms.

• There are many home remedies for the relief of baby yeast infection symptoms, from the use of tea tree oil (very diluted – 1 drop to 2 litres of water), to colloidal silver, to cinnamon oil, yogurt or cider vinegar.
• Aloe Vera gel or a cool damp chamomile tea bag pressed to the area may also relieve her symptoms.
• Changing the diaper more regularly than usual and having ‘bare bum time’ will help the area to breathe and heal as well as helping to prevent a Candida overgrowth.

If you or bub end up with a Candida infection, please ensure that you do seek medical advice and that you treat it quickly and thoroughly. By doing this now, you will potentially save yourself and your baby a lot of pain in the future.