How Can I Prevent Thrush
You may not be able to completely avoid thrush whilst pregnant, due to the hormonal changes in your body.
However, there are a few things you can do which might help to prevent it.
Make sure you change your underwear if you go swimming or do a workout.
And speaking of underwear, cotton is best, as it allows the skin to breathe and helps to avoid the warm, moist conditions where candida otherwise thrives.17
To learn more about thrush and how to treat it, read our article on the best natural ways to tackle candida.
1 March 2021
Vitamins Are Important Postpartum As Well
While there are clear benefits for taking a prenatal vitamin before and during pregnancy, there is also significant evidence that prenatal or postnatal vitamins may help even after delivery with things like improving the nutritional needs of breastfeeding mothers, preventing anemia and calcium deficiencies and enhanced energy and better mood regulation.
Some women, such as those with a vegetarian or vegan diet, may not get adequate nutrients through diet alone and may be at greater risk for deficiencies.
Most health care providers recommend taking a prenatal vitamin as long as you are breastfeeding to ensure your baby continues to get sufficient nutrients like A,D and B vitamins, DHA and iodine, Dr. Valentine said. “If not breastfeeding, then the general recommendation is to continue taking them a minimum of 6-8 weeks postpartum while your body is healing.
Talk to your health care provider about whether youd benefit from taking prenatal or postnatal vitamins after delivery.
Why Is Pelvic Discomfort A Symptom Of Yeast Infections
There are cases where pelvic ache presents as a symptom of yeast overgrowth infections. This typically happens due to excessive vaginal discharge, vaginitis or vaginal inflammation, bacterial vaginosis, and genital inflammatory infection.
Pelvic inflammatory disease refers to an infection of all female reproductive organs. It causes pain, burning sensations when urinating, and pain in the lower abdomen.
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How Is Yeast Infection Treated
Your healthcare provider will consider your age, overall health, how widespread the infection is and other factors to determine your treatment.
Yeast infections can be easily treated with ointments or other anti-yeast creams.
- Yeast infection in the mouth may be treated with a medicated mouthwash. Or it may be treated with lozenges that dissolve in the mouth.
- If you have a severe infection and have a weak immune system, you may need to take an oral anti-yeast medicine.
- Esophageal yeast infections are usually treated with oral or intravenous anti-yeast medicines.
- Yeast infections of the nails are treated with an oral anti-yeast medicine.
- Yeast infections in the skin folds can be treated with anti-yeast powders.
How Is Candidiasis Diagnosed
Your doctor will ask about your symptoms and do a physical exam. To confirm the diagnosis, your doctor will use a cotton swab to take a sample of the vaginal discharge. The sample will be checked under a microscope for signs of the yeasts that cause infections.
In certain cases, your doctor may want to culture or grow in a lab a sample of your vaginal discharge. Cultures help them rule out other types of yeast, such as C. glabrata and C. tropicalis.
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Other Infections During Pregnancy
Pregnancy causes many changes in the body, making people more susceptible to complications from many infections.
For example, hormone-related skin changes during pregnancy can cause conditions such as eczema or severely dry skin. If the skin cracks open and bleeds, a serious skin infection, such as cellulitis, can develop. A rare skin disorder called Sweetâs syndrome is also more common during pregnancy than at other times.
Some other infections that may be more serious during pregnancy
The increased risk of these infections during pregnancy is not well understood but may be due to hormone and other changes that alter the number of blood cells in the body. For example, late in pregnancy, T cells that help fight infection .
Pregnancy also causes increased blood circulation and demands on the heart. These demands can also worsen complications. For example, if a pregnant person develops pneumonia from the flu, they may have more difficulty breathing because of the increased demands the fetus places on the heart and lungs.
Some medications that can effectively treat common infections may be less safe during pregnancy. So it is essential that pregnant people who have an infection talk to their doctor or midwife to weigh up the benefits and risks of various treatment options.
Numerous infections can affect the developing baby. However, it is difficult for doctors to tell whether and to what extent a fetus will be affected.
What Is Chronic Pelvic Discomfort
Chronic pelvic ache refers to any pain or discomfort felt in the pelvic area that lasts for at least six months. The pain can be continuous and without any interval, or it may come and go at different times.
Chronic pelvic ache does not have to occur daily, either. In some cases, it follows a regular cycle. For some women, chronic pelvic ache can coincide with their menstrual cycle.
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Tips For Preventing Infections Before And During Pregnancy
Some infections before and during pregnancy can hurt both you and your developing fetus. They can cause serious illness, birth defects, and lifelong disabilities, such as hearing loss or learning problems. Here are 10 tips to help prevent infections before and during pregnancy:
Are Yeast Infections Harmful
Other than being uncomfortable and sometimes painful, yeast infections do not usually cause complications in pregnancy or for the baby during pregnancy over the background risk. We know that every pregnancy starts out with a 3-5% chance of having a birth defect and 10-15% chance for miscarriage. This is called the background risk.
If left untreated, however, a yeast infection could pass to your babys mouth during labor and delivery and may cause the baby to have a condition called thrush. Baby may then return the yeast infection back to you if the baby breastfeeds . Very rarely a yeast infection in babies can become serious because their immune systems are not yet well-developed.
Yeast infections can also cause body-wide infections and serious complications in pregnant people, especially those who have a weakened immune system because of other health problems.
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Remind Me What Does My Baby Need
In summary the research overwhelmingly suggests that you should be taking a prenatal vitamin when trying to conceive, as well as during pregnancy and lactation.
Take a look at this inforgraphic for what you would have to eat in order to get the same amount of nutrients as a prenatal vitamin:
Embed the What Would You Have to Eat infographic on your site :
To help you understand mineral rich foods as an alternative to prenatal vitamins, take a look at the following infographic:
Embed the Mineral Rich Foods infographic on your site :
Symptoms In Moms And Babies
Though caused by the same fungal overgrowth, the signs and symptoms of a yeast infection vary depending on the location of the infection. Vaginal yeast infection symptoms in moms may include:
- Discharge that is white or creamy, including a cottage cheese-like appearance
Whereas yeast infection symptoms in babies may appear as:
- White patches in their mouth that do not wipe off
- Bright red diaper rash that doesnât go away
If you have never had a yeast infection before, you should have your doctor or midwife look at a sample of your vaginal secretions or discharge under a microscope to ensure you receive a proper diagnosis. You shouldnât assume it is a yeast infection and attempt to treat it without consulting your provider.
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When Do I Need To See A Doctor
If youve dealt with yeast infections before, you might seek over the counter treatment first before consulting with your doctor. Even if you are familiar with the symptoms, there are certain times to see a doctor for this common infection.
If this is your first infection you should always see a doctor. Not only can they provide a diagnosis, but they can prescribe treatments that have a systemic effect on the body, rather than the localized effect of creams and suppositories. And if you are pregnant, any medications will need to be approved by your doctor first.
If you suffer from yeast infections often, there may be something more going on. A consultation with your doctor can determine the right course of treatment, which may be different from a one-off infection. Yeast infections can also be a sign of an underlying medical condition like diabetes, which your doctor will investigate based on your medical history.
Tracking your cycle can help determine when to see a doctor as well. As youre already familiar with whats normal for you, changes are detected early and you can take action sooner rather than later when it comes to scheduling a visit.
How Do I Treat A Yeast Infection
Good news is that yeast infections are usually easy to treat and there are treatments that can be used in pregnancy! Yeast infections are treated either topically or orally .
- Oral Medications: The most common oral antifungal used to treat yeast infections is called fluconazole and is typically given once in a single 150mg dose. It is unlikely that the use of a single low dose of oral fluconazole during pregnancy would greatly increase the chance of birth defects or complications. However, the use of high dose fluconazole for many weeks in the first trimester of pregnancy might be associated with an increase in the chance of birth defects and miscarriage. Because of this, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have posted guidelines for treating vaginal yeast infections in pregnancy and these guidelines recommend topical therapies rather than oral medication. For more details, visit our Fluconazole Fact Sheet.
- Topical Medications: Most common topical therapies include antifungals called azoles and are usually used over a 7-day period. There are many types of azole medications, but the most common ones used are clotrimazole or miconazole . For more details, visit our Miconazole | Clotrimazole Fact Sheet.
Rarely, some individuals may have more complicated yeast infections that last for a long time or come back more than four times a year. These may have to be treated differently.
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Is There Anything I Can Do To Prevent A Yeast Infection
There are some things that can be done to help lower the chance of an infection developing. Make sure to talk to your OB or midwife about other ways to lower the chance for yeast infections.
Some of these include:
Unfortunately, you cannot control the pregnancy hormones, so it is not possible to completely prevent yeast infections! But the sooner you get it treated, the sooner you can go back to enjoying the regular miseries of being pregnant during the summer!
For more information please see:
How To Prevent Yeast Infections
Consistently practicing good genital hygiene is the key to preventing vaginal yeast infections. Here are some ways to avoid yeast infection pregnancy symptoms:
- Avoid wearing tight bottoms and undergarments made of synthetic materials, especially overnight.
- Wear loose, cotton underwear to keep things dry and airy in the vaginal area
- Change out of workout garments, sweaty clothing, and wet swimsuits immediately.
- Avoid scented soaps and body washes, especially in the vaginal area
- Refrain from using scented toilet paper and scented sanitary napkins and tampons
- Always wipe from front to back
- Avoid added sugars in your diet
- Eat probiotic-rich foods, such as yogurt
- Maintain a healthy diet filled with fruits, vegetables, protein, and whole-grains
These methods of yeast infection pregnancy symptoms are avoidable when you take the proper precautions. But remember, there is usually no cause for concern because yeast infections during pregnancy are common and treatable overall.
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Why Does Pregnancy Make You More Vulnerable To Infection
During pregnancy you undergo big changes that affect every system in your body. Your immune system is taxed to adapt to the growing fetus, and this can put you more at risk for developing infections.
Pregnant women are more severely affected by infections with certain organisms, and minor infections are common, with over 63% of women reporting some sort of illness during pregnancy, such as influenza or a respiratory or urinary tract infection.
While this doesnt necessarily mean that youll pick up an infection during pregnancy, it does mean that you will need to take precautions to boost your immune system and limit exposure to certain viruses that could affect you or your baby.
Causes Symptoms And Treatment
Yeast infections during pregnancy are more common than any other time in a womans life, especially during the second trimester of pregnancy. You may be noticing an increase in the amount of thin, white, odd smelling discharge. This is common and a normal symptom in the second trimester.If you think you may be experiencing a yeast infection, the following information will prepare you to discuss the possibility with your doctor. Though yeast infections have no major negative effect on pregnancy, they are often more difficult to control during pregnancy, causing significant discomfort for you. Dont wait to seek treatment!
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How To Treat A Yeast Infection When You’re Pregnant
Even if youve had yeast infections before and are a pro at self-diagnosing, its best to call your provider before using an over-the-counter medication. Why? Some women who think they have a yeast infection actually have a bacterial infection like bacterial vaginosis or trichomoniasis, and a yeast infection medication will only prolong the issue.
If you have a yeast infection, your doctor may recommend an over-the-counter or prescription antifungal cream or vaginal suppository. The following over-the-counter and prescription yeast infection treatments are generally considered safe during pregnancy, but be sure to check with your practitioner before starting treatment.
What Is A Yeast Infection
Vaginal candidiasis is a treatable yet painful fungal condition commonly observed among sexually active women. The infection is caused by a strain of yeast or fungus known as Candida albicans. Therefore, the disease is also referred to as candidiasis or candida vaginal infections.
Although the disease is pretty common among sexually active women, candidiasis is not considered a sexually transmitted disease as you can contract the condition without ever having sexual intercourse.
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Treatment Of A Yeast Infection During Pregnancy
Outside of pregnancy, youd usually be prescribed a single-dose oral medication called fluconazole. It clears up the infection within a few days. However, this type of medication has not been proven safe to take during pregnancy and lactation because it may affect your baby.
As a result, your doctor will recommend vaginal creams and suppositories. These antifungal medications will fight off the overgrown yeast and restore your vaginal balance without causing any harm to your baby. Nevertheless, not all antifungal vaginal creams are safe to use during pregnancy. Ask your doctor for guidance on which one works best for you.
Getting rid of a yeast infection during pregnancy may take 1014 days. The severe symptoms might become less intense within the first few days of treatment. After complete recovery from the infection, you can use starch-free drying powder or nystatin powder to avoid getting infected again.
- Feminine hygiene sprays or scented laundry detergents
- Bubble baths, or sitting in a hot tub
- Wearing damp clothes shower and change immediately after swimming or working out
- Colored or perfumed toilet paper
- Wearing underwear or pajamas when sleeping. Wearing a night robe instead will help with air circulation.
- Tight-fitting clothes such as jeans these create a moist environment that encourages the growth of yeast.
When Should I Take Prenatal Vitamins
Always talk with your doctor before starting to take prenatal vitamins. If youre trying to conceive or are pregnant, your doctor will likely recommend that you take them.
While you can buy prenatal vitamins over the counter, doctors can prescribe them too. Women who are carrying multiples, pregnant teenagers, and pregnant women with a history of substance abuse have a higher risk of vitamin and mineral deficiencies. Prenatal vitamins are particularly important for these women.
Doctors often recommend that women who are breastfeeding also continue taking prenatal vitamins after delivery. Prenatal vitamins can serve as a further supplement to lactating women who need plenty of nutrients to make breast milk.
Even if you arent trying to get pregnant, you still might want to take a folic acid supplement. Thats because half of the pregnancies in the United States arent planned. Because the brain and spinal cord are already forming at the early stages of pregnancy, folic acid is vital. Women of childbearing age could also eat more folate-rich foods as an alternative to taking a supplement.
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