Candida (Yeast) and Thrush during Pregnancy and Lactation
What is Candidiasis? Why is it so Common during Pregnancy?
Candida albicans is a form of fungus or yeast that is found naturally in and on many parts of the healthy body, especially in the digestive tract. Usually levels of Candida are controlled by microbes or other substances which co-exist in the digestive tract.
During pregnancy, hormone changes and a slightly weakened immune system contribute to getting yeast infections more than usual. It is critical that you use NATURAL remedies to treat yeast since prescription and over-the-counter antifungal medications can affect your liver health and the health of your baby. In addition, if you suffer for reoccuring vaginal yeast infections and have tried using the over-the-counter antifungals with no success, it means you are resistant to them and need to follow a complete program such as the one below.
During Lactation, it is critical that you treat yourself and your baby using safe natural remedies. This yeast overgrowth can be on your nipples and in your milk ducts in your breasts, as well as in your baby's mouth and intestinal tract. It causes sore nipples and can cause intraductal pain in your breasts (burning, shooting pain during and after feedings). If your baby has a white tongue, this can be an early sign of oral yeast (thrush). If not treated, it will progress to patches of white on tongue and cheeks. It causes a sore throat and tongue and, sometimes red, sore skin in the diaper area, along with irritability and excessive gas. A baby with a sore mouth from yeast will often not feed well, coming off and on throughout the feeding or feeding in a way that hurts your nipples i.e. clicking or nipple compression.
The “yeast syndrome” is characterized by patients saying they “feel sick all over”. Fatigue, allergies, immune system malfunction, depression, chemical sensitivity, and digestive disturbances are just some of the symptoms patients with the yeast syndrome may experience. Many people have Candida overgrowth or candidiasis without knowing it
What are the Symptoms?
Symptoms of Candida overgrowth can include the following, depending on severity:
- Vaginal symptoms: Itching, burning, thick cottage cheese like discharge, redness, and discomfort during sex.
- Fatigue and lethargy
- Recurring yeast infections like thrush, athletes foot, fungal nail infections, etc
- Recurring UTI infections, allergies, sinus problems, asthma and chronic chest congestion
- Abdominal bloating, gas, indigestion, heartburn, constipation, diarrhea or mucus in the stool
- Eye fatigue and recurring inflammation of the eye
- Depression, anxiety, mood swings, panic attacks, poor concentration and memory or headaches
- Muscle weakness and joint pain or swelling and fever
- Dry mouth and tongue or cracked tongue, swollen face
- Itchy skin, especially of the anus and other damp places of the body.
- Sugar and carbohydrate cravings
Candida is known to release over 79 different types of toxins into the system, resulting in the symptoms above.
What Causes Candida Overgrowth?
A common cause is antibiotic use and overuse. Antibiotics often result in Candida overgrowth because, along with the harmful bacteria they are killing, they also kill off the 'friendly' micro-organisms or probiotic flora in the intestines, vagina, and whole body. These friendly bacteria strains are responsible for controlling Candida levels.
The other common cause is diet. Yeast loves sugar of any kind (natural or refined), and the foods that break down into sugar. In order to completely get rid of the underlying causes of yeast infections, you must focus on your diet, have a healthy intestinal tract, strong immune system, take probiotics, and a natural anti-fungal such as a Freeze Dried Garlic capsule each day. Some women have to do this indefinitely to keep the yeast starved.
Common Causes:
- Antibiotics, antacids, anti-ulcer medications and steroids/cortisones
- Alcohol
- Diet high in sugar and refined carbohydrates (fruit, fruit juice, white flour, white rice, pasta, cereal, packaged foods, processed foods)
- Antibiotics
- Hormonal imbalance
- Birth control pills
- Chronic stress
- Intestinal parasites and worms
- Compromised immune function
Take the Candida Questionnaire and Score Assessment
SUPPLEMENT PROGRAM & Recommendations for Candida during pregnancy
- Natural oral Anti-fungal: Alli-Cinn by Pharmax (1 per day w/food) or Garlic Freeze Dried (1 cap 2x daily)
- Vaginal Anti-fungal: Yeast Arrest Boric Acid: 1 suppository twice daily for 4-7 days.
- Oral Probiotics: HLC Intensive caps (2 per day) and/or HLC Synbiotic packets (1/2 packet per day)
- Vaginal Probiotics: HLC CandaClear probiotic suppositories (follow up to Yeast Arrest for yeast infections day for 5 or more days)
- GastroIntestinal Support: Intestinal Purifier by Pharmax (1 scoop per day)
- Gentle Immune Support: Pure Echinacea by Pharmax (1 cap twice daily empty stomach for 2 weeks)
- Gential Violet. Used topically on nipples and babies tongue and/or vaginally for stubborn cases. Use Q-tip to cover nipples for baby's tongue. Paint the walls of the vagina with a cotton swab every 2-3 days or soak a tampon in the solution and insert for several minutes.
The ANTI-CANDIDA DIET
Diet is extremely important when dealing with Candida. A number of dietary factors appear to promote the growth of Candida. The most important factors are a high intake of sugar (table sugar, honey, molasses, maple syrup, corn syrup, candy, soft drinks, fruit (except cranberries and lemons) , milk and other dietary products, foods containing yeast such as flour products.
NO SUGAR:
Sugar is the chief food source for Candida Albicans. It is well accepted that restriction of sugar intake is an absolute necessity in the treatment of chronic candidiasis. Limitation of refined carbohydrates is also a good idea (bread, pasta, cereal, foods made with flour) since they can also feed yeast.
NO MILK AND DAIRY PRODUCTS:
There are several reasons to restrict or eliminate the intake of milk.
- The high lactose content promotes the overgrowth of Candida
- Milk is one the most frequent food allergens
- Milk may contain trace levels of antibiotics which can further disrupt the GI bacterial flora and promote Candida Overgrowth.
NO MOLD AND YEAST- CONTAINING FOOD:
Patients with chronic candidiasis should avoid foods with a high content of yeast or mold, including alcoholic beverages, cheeses, dried fruits and peanuts.
Check for food allergies and Sensitivities:
Check for food allergies or food sensitivities since they are very common in patients with yeast syndrome. The symptoms of a food sensitivity may be so subtle that you do not know you have it. We recommend you have an IgG food allergy test done from ImmunoLabs and eliminate any food which shows up positive for 3-6 months.
Supplementation with Probiotics
Even when you are not actively dealing with Candida overgrowth, it is important to regularly supplement your diet with the "friendly" bacteria, or probiotics such as lactobacillus and bifidus for protection. You can ingest these through your diet by eating high quality yogurt and Kefir products which state the presence of "live cultures" on their labels. High quality brands include Stoneyfield Farms, Brown Cow, Tillamook, Cabot and others (just be careful to always check sugar content—some products contain a lot of sugar or corn syrup). Try combining plain yogurt with fresh berries, apples or applesauce for a more "naturally" sweetened snack.
Another easy way to regularly replenish the protective supply in your intestines is to supplement with a high quality brand, such as HLC Maintenance by Pharmax. It is particularly useful to pay attention to replenishing probiotics during and immediately after antibiotic regimens, episodes of diarrhea, and in preparation for travel abroad. Store your probiotic supplement in the refrigerator to keep live cultures fresh.
Yeast Infection Remedy Testimonial
For most of my adult life, I have been plagued with yeast infections. They worsened after a hysterectomy and a few years of taking the prescription Premarin. The doctor would prescribe Diflucan for the yeast infections. In the beginning, a 200 mg. dose of Diflucan would seemingly arrest it; but it got to where I would have to take up to 4 consecutive doses to see a difference, and still no long term results. In Feb. 2006, my gynecologist changed my treatment for the better. He prescribed 600mg Boric acid suppositories to use twice a week, along with an over the counter acidophilus probiotic called Lactinex. I combined this with a yeast and sugar free diet, eliminating all refined sugar, all artificial sugars, all fruit and all refined flour from my diet for a period of 3 months. Gave up all soft drinks and juices. Stevia became my sweetener of choice. The yeast problem seemed to be under control; but not quite. Before the 3 months were up, I was back at the doctor's office, diagnosed with yeast again.
Shortly after that visit, I read Herbs and Health magazine and I saw an article entitled "Coping With Candida". The article touted HLC probiotics recommended by Dr. Hibbs for it's effective antifungal action. I found Rockwell Nutrition and ordered Pharmax HLC High Potency Probiotics. I have taken 2 caps a day since August of 2006, and after almost 8 months; for the first time in years I have remained yeast free! I still monitor what I eat but I believe the decisive factor in remaining yeast free are HLC Probiotics. I am very fortunate to have discovered Pharmax HLC Probiotics and Rockwell Nutrition!
—Kim H.
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