We all pray for a healthy birth and baby.  Although 98% of babies are born healthy, there are some issues a baby can have after birth.  Whether they are minor or major, they still catch our attention and give us a scare.  Something that can happen in babies is thrush.  It doesn’t happen to every baby, but that doesn’t mean your baby can’t get it.

First of all, What is thrush exactly?

• It’s when your baby has an imbalance of yeast in their digestive system.  This then results in milk curd sightings in the roof of your little one’s mouth and sometimes on their tongue.  This is most common in babies 2 months or under, yet it can happen in older babies too. 

If thrush does happen, don’t panic!  It is harmless and happens mostly when your baby comes down the birth canal and comes in contact with yeast.  It can also happen when hormonal changes occur right after birth. 

Your baby may also have gotten thrush from you taking antibiotics after birth if you’re breastfeeding, or if your baby is on them.  Antibiotics kill bacteria, including “good” bacteria which in turn keeps yeast under control.

Now, there is a different between a baby with a white tounge (due to formula residue), and thrush.  If you suspect it’s thrush, try wiping it off with a clean washcloth.  If it doesn’t come off very easily, or there are red bumps under the white residue, it could be thrush.  Although, to be 100% certain, you may want to bring it up at your baby’s next check up with their pediatrician.

Like I said, thrush is more common than you may think so don’t panic!  You will see that your babies experience a lot of different things as they grow older that we didn’t even knew existed.  So, for now, just bring it up to their pediatrician the next time you see them!