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Author: Connitta Bowers Article source: http://www.articledeshboard.com/. Used with author's permission.
Women are often concerned about treating yeast infections while pregnant. Pregnancy has its own set of challenges to begin with and this includes a higher risk of getting a yeast infection. Yeast infections can be especially common during the second trimester of pregnancy. Some medications should be avoided during pregnancy, so it is very important that women consult their health care provider before attempting to treat a yeast infection while pregnant.
The reason yeast infections during pregnancy are so common is the ups and downs your body is going through hormonally. You have a better chance of fighting off a yeast infection if your vaginal PH is more acidic, but during the second trimester of pregnancy there is an increase of sugar in your vaginal secretions. While this causes a great deal of growth in the baby, it also gives way to an increased amount of sugar for yeast to feed on.
The main concern of a pregnant woman is the safety of the baby. For this reason, pregnant women may become very anxious when they find out that they have a yeast infection. The yeast infection usually has no effect on the developing baby. There is, however, a slight chance that the newborn baby may come in contact with the yeast infection as he or she passes through the birth canal. This infection, called thrush, causes white patches in the baby's mouth, which can be passed to the mother while the child is breast feeding. Thrush is not a serious condition and can be easily treated.
The signs of a yeast infection are hard to ignore. Early symptoms of yeast infection usually include extreme itchiness, irritation, soreness, burning and redness in the vagina and vulva. This may be followed by an odorless, white, creamy or cottage cheese like vaginal discharge. Experiencing pain during urination and sex are also common symptoms of yeast infection.
Your physician can perform a simple test on your vaginal discharge and check it for yeast to confirm the diagnosis. If you do have a yeast infection, your doctor will prescribe a medication that is safe to use during pregnancy.
For the sake of your baby, you should limit the amount of medications you use to treat the infection and act quickly. This should ensure that the baby is not affected at all. If you do contract a yeast infection during your pregnancy it can take from one to three weeks to be completely over it. Try to be patient and remember that this too shall pass!
Connitta Bowers has been involved in the health and fitness fields for
over 20 years. To learn more about how to permanently cure your
chronic yeast infections please visit www.cbowers.net/yeast
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