How to Deal with Yeast Infections During Pregnancy

How to Deal with Yeast Infections During Pregnancy

Women are more susceptible to yeast infections during pregnancy, but how can you help reduce the risk? This guide will help you fight away that annoying problem

Yeast infections are frustrating enough as it is. But yeast infections during pregnancy? The worst.

Unfortunately, yeast infections are more common when you're pregnant. Your pregnancy causes your hormone levels to change drastically, affecting your pH levels down there.

Luckily, yeast infections are easy to deal with. There are also some simple steps you can take to avoid getting them in the future. Read on to learn everything you need to know about how to deal with yeast infections during pregnancy.

Don't Use Soap

It seems counterintuitive. When you're irritated and things aren't smelling right due to a yeast infection, your natural instinct is to grab that bar of soap and clean yourself up. Right?

In actuality, commercial soaps are actually chock full of chemicals that are harmful to your lady parts. These chemicals disrupt your natural pH levels, making it harder for your body to fight off the infection.

The vagina is self-regulating and self-cleaning. You don't actually need to worry about using a product down there, unless its a certified product designed specifically for that area. 

Also, if you can't stand the thought of getting out of the shower without using something, try making your own DIY feminine hygiene wash that's safe to use!

Over the Counter Meds: Are They Safe?

When you're not pregnant and dealing with a yeast infection, you don't really need to consider this question. But with that little life growing inside you, of course, you want to make sure any medication you take is okay for your baby.

Good news: the answer is yes. Some over-the-counter products can be safely used during pregnancy without risk of pregnancy complications or any birth defects. The safe ones tend to be varieties of vaginal creams and suppositories.

Take note, however: some antifungal creams, such as Fluconazole, might be harmful during your first trimester. Make sure to consult with your healthcare provider about any medication you plan to take during your pregnancy before you take it.

Home Remedies: What's the Deal?

There are lots of home remedies out there that claim to do away with your yeast infection quickly and effectively. The truth is, though, that few have been proven to work as well as over the counter creams and suppositories.

The best thing you can do at home is to apply an ice pack to the affected area. This'll help soothe the irritation and make you more comfortable during treatment.

Prevention Methods

You probably want to know what you can do to make sure you don't ever have to deal with this again during your pregnancy. Luckily, there are some simple things you can do to help prevent yeast infections during pregnancy.

First, eat a healthy diet full of probiotics (think: dairy, especially yogurt). What you eat eventually makes its way all the way down there and becomes oil secreted by pores. When you eat lots of fruits, vegetables, and probiotics, these oils help support your body's natural pH levels to ward off infection.

Next up: avoid excessive physical activity and heat, especially during treatment. Fungal infections love moist, warm environments. Make sure you stay cool and keep it breezy down there to allow your body room to breathe.

Back to blog