I’m really glad you had your baby checked by your GP first – that’s always step one with rashes at this age. I’ll stay in the “supportive ideas” lane here rather than diagnosing anything, because skin changes can have lots of causes.
A couple of big picture things first:
A C-section birth doesn’t mean your baby’s immune system is “broken” – but it does mean she missed a big dose of vaginal and gut bacteria that babies usually pick up as they move through the birth canal.
Those early months are a busy time for the gut-immune “wiring”, so it makes sense to pay a bit of extra attention to her microbiome now.
Here are some gentle, naturopath-aligned options you can discuss with your GP or paediatrician and consider:
Think of breastmilk as the main “probiotic delivery system”
You’re already doing the most powerful thing by breastfeeding where you can. Breastmilk:
Carries live bacteria from your own microbiome
Contains special sugars (HMOs) that feed good bacteria in her gut
Delivers immune messengers that “coach” her system
Supporting your gut health can indirectly support hers. Many parents find it helpful to:
Eat a variety of plant foods (aim for different colours in the week)
Include simple fermented foods if tolerated (e.g. a spoonful of sauerkraut, plain yoghurt, kefir)
Focus on regular meals and enough protein so your own system isn’t running on empty
Targeted infant probiotics (if appropriate)
There is some early research suggesting that certain infant-specific probiotic strains may help with things like eczema risk and gut comfort, especially in C-section babies.
If you choose to use them:
Look for a product that is specifically labelled for infants, and ideally recommended by your health professional.
Many parents either:
Add the drops to their own nipple just before a feed, or
Mix a tiny amount with expressed milk on a clean spoon.
Always follow the dose on the label and your practitioner’s guidance.
This isn’t magic, and it doesn’t replace medical care, but it can be one gentle tool for supporting the microbiome during this window.
Simple, boring skin care is often best
For nappy rashes that have been medically cleared as “nothing serious”, I often suggest:
Keeping the area as dry and breathable as possible (nappy-free time when practical)
Using a very plain barrier cream (no perfumes, minimal ingredients)
Avoiding lots of product changes all at once – the skin barrier at this age is still maturing.
Personally, when my own little one had a stubborn, angry nappy rash around this age, we did three things at once: extra nappy-free time, a really boring zinc-based barrier cream, and I upped my own intake of fermented foods and fibre. The rash cleared fairly quickly.
I can’t honestly say which part did the trick – it may simply have been time – but it reinforced for me how connected gut, skin and environment are.
When to go back to your doctor
Even with all the gentle gut-support ideas, I’d want you to circle back to your GP or child health nurse if:
The rash is spreading rapidly or becoming weepy / blistered
Your baby seems unwell in herself (fever, poor feeding, very unsettled)
You’re feeling uneasy or unsure – your instincts matter.
If you do explore probiotics or dietary shifts for yourself, it can be helpful to note what you change and how her skin and comfort seem over a couple of weeks. You’re not looking for overnight miracles, just gentle trends.
None of this replaces your GP’s advice, but it does honour the way a C-section start, gut, skin and immune system talk to each other – especially in these early months where those “wiring windows” are wide open.