I am going to send this through Karen Z, who kindly offered to send my posts until I get my e-mail system corrected to accommodate the archives. Being an experienced "yeast queen" she might want to add her ideas to this topic. As many of you know, I hold that thrush or vaginal yeast or nipple yeast is not a location-limited health problem. I see it as a full GI imbalance that can yield symptoms anywhere in or on the body. We always have candida and we always have acidophilus, along with other healthful bacteria. It is when there is an imbalance that we get the problems that we LCs deal with. I have had several mothers who have asked this question about their precious, frozen breastmilk. I would never recommend that they throw it out! I also believe that if the baby's immune system were strong and her GI tract was healthily balanced, she could drink the candida-laced breastmilk without any negative effect. However, when a baby and mother have been battling a yeast overgrowth, the balance is very delicate--on the mend, yes, but still very delicate. I have clients who, on Friday call with glee because they have NO yeast symptoms, and on Monday they call dejectedly because all of the symptoms are back. Grandma had a birthday and mom ate birthday cake and ice cream. I feel that we don't know enough about how long it takes the GI tract to return to "harmony" so I recommend that a mom scald her frozen breastmilk that was pumped when she had an overgrowth of yeast. This heat will kill the yeast spores. There will, of course, be some reduction of antibodies and antibacterial properties, some nutrients, etc. but baby's feeding at the breast in the day time will provide perfect coverage of anything that is lost in the heat process. In support of my position on a strong immune system's protection from a candida assault, I have a client whose 9 months old and mom are doing serious battle with yeast overgrowth, but the 4 year old, who is also breastfeeding has no symptoms and hasn't throughout the 5 months of this challenge. The suggestion to give the baby acidophilus (or bifidus) is a good one, even if she scalds the milk. This will hasten the return to a balanced GI tract. Pat Gima, IBCLC Milwaukee, Wisconsin *********************************************** The LACTNET mailing list is powered by L-Soft's renowned LISTSERV(R) list management software together with L-Soft's LSMTP(TM) mailer for lightning fast mail delivery. For more information, go to: http://www.lsoft.com/LISTSERV-powered.html