Yeast Infection during Pregnancy: Causes & Treatments

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Yeast infections that occur during pregnancy are very common, especially during the second trimester of pregnancy. One may notice an increase in the amount of thin, white, odd and smelling discharge. This is common as well as a normal symptom in the second trimester.

What Is A Yeast Infection?

A yeast infection usually occurs when the normal levels of acid, as well as yeast in the vagina, are out of balance, and which does allow yeast to overgrow causing an uncomfortable, but not serious, a condition which is referred to as a yeast infection.

One needs to see one’s physician first for accurate diagnosis and treatment.

What Causes A Yeast Infection During Pregnancy?

A yeast infection can indeed be caused by one or more of the following:

• Hormonal changes that come with pregnancy or before one’s period
• Taking hormones or birth control pills
• Taking antibiotics or steroids
• High blood sugar, as in diabetes
• Douching
• Vaginal intercourse
• Blood or semen

Why Are Yeast Infections More Common During Pregnancy?

When one’s body is going through so many changes, it is difficult for it to keep up with the chemical changes in the vagina. There is more sugar in vaginal secretions on which the yeast can indeed feed, causing an imbalance which does result in too much yeast.

Yeast Infection during Pregnancy: Causes & TreatmentsWhat Are The Symptoms Of Yeast Infections?

The symptoms of a yeast infection may include one or more of the following:

  • Discharge is usually white/tan in color, quite similar to cottage cheese and may also smell like yeast/bread
  • Other discharge may be rather greenish or yellowish, also similar to cottage cheese and may indeed smell like yeast/bread
  • An increase in discharge
  • Redness, itching, or irritation of the lips of the vagina
  • Burning sensation during urination or intercourse

How Do I Know For Sure If I Have A Yeast Infection?

At one’s doctor’s office or medical clinic, a clinician will rather make use of a simple, painless swab in order to remove discharge or vaginal secretions and also examine it through a microscope. Usually, upon a simple examination of the vagina, a physician can indeed diagnose a yeast infection. In rare cases, the culture may be sent to a lab.

How Are Yeast Infections Treated During Pregnancy?

During one’s pregnancy, physicians do recommend vaginal creams and suppositories only. The oral medication, Diflucan (a single-dose medication), has not indeed been proven safe during pregnancy as well as lactation. Not all vaginal creams and suppositories are alright to make use of during pregnancy, so it is best to consult one’s doctor or pharmacist in order to get the right one. If left untreated, yeast infections can rather pass to one’s baby’s mouth during delivery. This is called “thrush” and it does effectively get treated with Nystatin.

It may take 10-14 days in order to find relief or completely clear up the infection while one is pregnant. After the infection has cleared up and any sores have healed, it may also be helpful to make use of a starch-free drying powder, or Nystatin powder to prevent recurring infection.

How Can I Prevent A Yeast Infection Or Recurring Yeast Infections?

Most yeast infections can usually be avoided by doing the following:

Wear loose, breathable cotton clothing as well as cotton underwear.

After regular, thorough washing (using unscented, hypoallergenic or gentle soap), do use one’s blow dryer on a low, cool setting to help dry the outside of one’s genital area.

Always wipe from front to back after making use of one’s restroom.

Shower immediately after one swim. Change out of one’s swimsuit, workout clothes, or other damp clothes as soon as possible.

Do NOT:

Douche

use sanitary pads as well as tampons that contain deodorant

use feminine hygiene sprays

take a bubble bath/use scented soaps

use colored or perfumed toilet paper

Include yogurt with “lactobacillus acidophilus” in one’s diet.

Limit sugar intake, as sugar does promote the growth of yeast.

Get plenty of rest in order to make it easier for one’s body to fight infections.

When Should One Contact The Doctor?

If one is experiencing the symptoms describe done needs to contact one’s doctor now. Yeast infections, in fact, have similar symptoms of other infections, such as STDs. Proper diagnosis is essential when one faces these symptoms for effective, immediate treatment, or the condition may worsen and not go away.

If one does not see any improvement within three days, or in case the symptoms worsen or come back after treatment, one does need to contact the healthcare provider again.

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