Yeast Infection Solution.info

Yeast Infection During Pregnancy

Having a yeast infection during pregnancy can be a painful ordeal for a new mother to experience. And while it is common to get a candida infection during pregnancy, it will have no lasting negative repercussions on the pregnancy itself. Besides the added emotional stress a woman goes through during pregnancy, there are added physical changes to her body and immune system that we will discuss here.

Pregnancy and Yeast

A women experiences many hormonal changes during pregnancy. For one thing, there is more glucose (sugar) in her vaginal secretions. Yeast loves this sugar and feeds off of it. Estrogen levels are much higher, and since the body is going through these additional chemical changes; it makes it hard to sustain a more normal vaginal balance, like before pregnancy.

Yeast infections often occur in the second to later trimesters of pregnancy. After delivery, the hormone levels dramatically change, and the yeast symptoms will subside as the newer vaginal environment will not support the yeast growth any longer.

Yeast infection treatment during pregnancy

A vaginal swab in a doctors office can determine whether or not a woman has a yeast infection and not bacterial vaginosis or an STD (such as gonorrhea or chlamydia.) This is important, especially when pregnant, as your doctor can determine the best yeast infection treatments available.

Vaginal suppositories and creams will be the recommended treatments in this case, as oral medications for yeast infections are not advisable for obvious reasons. Diflucan is an oral yeast medication that has not been determined safe for use in pregnant women. A yeast infection that is left untreated can pass from mother to baby during delivery (thru the birth canal) resulting in thrush (oral yeast infection) to the baby.

Preventing yeast infection during pregnancy

It is always wise to practice an extra bit of caution when pregnant, and the fact that yeast infection during pregnancy occurs almost double the rate than of non-pregnant women, here are some simple yeast infection prevention tips to follow:

wear loose fitting, breathable clothing throughout your pregnancy
wear white cotton panties only
wipe from front to back when going to the bathroom
limit your sugar intake
eat plenty of plain yogurt
do not douche
get plenty of rest to fight off infection
don’t uses feminine sprays, scented sanitary napkins and scented toilet paper

Although you may want to check with your doctor first, acidophilus supplements can replenish the natural bacterial flora balance in your intestines during and after pregnancy. Expecting a child is a very special time in a woman’s life, having as much awareness about pregnancy and yeast infections will aid the journey in this wonderful and nervous time.