Itching, burning, stinging - these symptoms of vaginal infections are familiar to most women. It can be easy to get bacterial, fungal or trichomoniasis during pregnancy. And the effects of a vaginal infection in pregnancy can be serious. This is why intimate hygiene at this time is of special importance. How to protect yourself against vaginal infections in pregnancy?

Ovaginal infections in pregnancyespecially easy - pregnant women often complain of vaginal discharge, itching and burning caused bybacterial, fungal or trichomoniasis. Hormones are to blame for this. Under their influence, the vaginal pH changes to alkaline, which favors fungal and bacterial infections (their development is prevented by acidic pH). Bacterial infections are more dangerous for pregnancy, because if they are not properly treated, they can lead to premature rupture of the fetal bladder and premature birth. So it's worth following a few important hygiene rules to avoid trouble.

Proper intimate hygiene during pregnancy

It's not about washing more often, using more panty liners or spending money on some special washing liquids or deodorants to refresh your intimate areas. Because too much hygiene can be just as harmful as not having it. Too frequent washing, especially with detergents containing detergents having the wrong pH, disturbs the natural bacterial flora characteristic of the vagina and facilitates the development of pathogenic microorganisms. - To my patients, instead of colorful, fragrant liquids, I recommend ordinary glycerin soap that destroys the yeast cell membrane - says Dr. Ilona Guzińska from the Lux Med clinic in Warsaw. - I also advise them not to use panty liners that work like a plaster with a dressing. By hindering the access of air, they create perfect conditions for the development of bad bacteria.

  • Beta-hemolytic streptococcus ( Streptococcus agalactiae ) inhabits the lower gastrointestinal tract, the area of ​​the anus and perineum, and the mucous membranes of the genital tract. Almost 25 percent live with him. women. It does not require treatment before and during pregnancy - actions are taken only at the time of delivery. An antibiotic is then given to reduce the risk of the bacterium being passed on to the baby (it can even cause sepsis in the newborn). That's why it's important to get aheadAfter giving birth, she informed the doctor and the midwife that she had been detected in you.
  • It is worth modifying her diet so that she is low in sugars, which are a breeding ground for bacteria, and eat more yoghurts containing live strains of lactobacilli. They have a positive effect on the restoration of the normal vaginal flora.

Physiology or vaginal discharge

- Many patients complain of vaginal discharge from the very beginning - says Dr. Guzińska. - After a few additional questions it turns out that nothing really is wrong. The watery, milky discharge with a mild odor is not, contrary to appearances, a harbinger of infection, and a normal matter during pregnancy. Its consistency resembles mucus that appears during ovulation or sexual arousal. In recent months, there may even be so much of it that you will have to use pads (do not use tampons because you risk introducing dangerous bacteria into the vagina). Usually, it does not constitute a pathology and does not threaten the proper course of pregnancy. - The sign of infection is yellowish, greenish discharge, with a cheesy consistency and an unpleasant smell - emphasizes Dr. Guzińska. - They indicate a bacterial or fungal infection. Then you need to check what enemy you are dealing with and start treatment.

Vaginal culture in pregnancy: results

- Each of us has a variety of bacteria in our vaginas, emphasizes Dr. Guzińska. - There are many of them, but they do not harm us on a daily basis. So there is no need to panic when the names of even those generally considered dangerous appear in the result of vaginal culture. They can become dangerous only when a change in pH makes it easier for them to develop and colonize the cervix. This is why, during each visit, the doctor should use a special litmus test to check the patient's vaginal pH (the correct pH is 4.0). When its value is abnormal, it is necessary to inoculate the cervical canal.

Intimate infections in pregnancy - treatment

The culture result allows the doctor to select the antibiotic to which the bacterium is sensitive. Future mothers often ask if it will harm the baby. The answer is simple - no. It may be harmful to withdraw from the treatment. - Even in the first trimester of pregnancy, we can effectively and safely treat vaginal infections - says Dr. Guzińska. Discontinuation of treatment may result in rupture of the fetal bladder and premature birth. In addition to the antibiotic, the gynecologist also recommends the use of agents rebuilding the proper pH.

You must do it

Follow the hygienic decalogue

  1. Wear only cotton underwear - it allows air to circulate.
  2. Avoid wearing tight,close-fitting trousers made of artificial fabrics.
  3. Wash your laundry in delicate powders, glycerine soap or soap flakes and rinse them generously in warm water, without fragrant and softening fabric softeners.
  4. Wash from front to back - this way you will avoid transferring bacteria from the anus to the vagina, which may result in a bacterial infection.
  5. Sleep in a cotton nightgown (no underwear), not in pajamas.
  6. Before going to bed, lie down for a few or a dozen minutes with your legs wide apart.
  7. For intimate hygiene, do not use a washcloth or a sponge - pathogenic bacteria and fungi may persist and spread on their surface; just wash your hand.
  8. Avoid wearing panty liners all the time, unless vaginal discharge is abundant.
  9. Never perform a vaginal lavage without a doctor's recommendation. Any procedures, including irrigations, in a different state, without consulting the gynecologist, are forbidden.
  10. Choose the right preparation for intimate hygiene - ordinary glycerin soap is the best; if a fluid would do its job, it would not be enough for it to contain lactic acid. It must also have a suitable pH. In the case of an emulsion for daily intimate hygiene, it should be around 5.2, while the optimal pH value of the preparation treating intimate infections is 3.5.

The most common intimate diseases

The treatment of these infections should also cover the future daddy. Otherwise, they will keep coming back, because you can get infected from him again during intimate contacts.

  • Bacterial vaginosisis caused by anaerobic bacteria inhabiting the vagina. Symptoms include milky or yellow discharge with an unpleasant fishy smell, persistent itching, burning vulva, and even pain in the vagina and labia.
  • Thrush (mycosis)- it is caused by yeasts, most often Candida albicans; the infection is manifested by itching and pain in the vagina and labia, thick creamy discharge that smells like yeast and looks like cottage cheese.
  • Trichomoniasis vaginitiscauses the trichomoniasis, a distant cousin of the amoeba. Symptoms are grayish or yellow-greenish foamy discharge with a strong, unpleasant smell, burning, itching and irritation of the vaginal mucosa and the skin of the labia, there may also be spotting, and always discomfort or pain during intercourse.

"M jak mama" monthly

Category:

Pregnancy