Itching…? Smelly vagina…? Nasty discharge…? Yikes. Unfortunately, women have to deal with a variety of toilet infections occasionally. However, some expectant mothers wonder if they can still get an infection even while pregnant.
We would love to tell you that the answer to that question is no.
Sadly, you can get toilet infections even in pregnancy.
What are the most common infections in pregnancy? What are their symptoms? How do you treat them? How can you protect yourself?
Read on to find out!
The vagina has its own bacteria that lives in it naturally.
Bacterial Vaginosis occurs when these bacteria begin to overgrow and multiply more than normal. Sadly, the hormonal changes in pregnancy can influence this overgrowth.
This condition needs to be managed properly to avoid future complications that may affect fertility. In pregnant women, untreated bacterial vaginosis can cause preterm labour, premature birth and low birth weight babies.
If you are pregnant, your doctor would be in the best place to recommend an antibiotic treatment for you.
Furthermore, if you are still early on in your pregnancy, he/she may advice you to wait till second semester before starting treatment.
Here are a few things you can do to reduce the risk of you getting an infection;
This is also caused by an overgrowth of a fungus that naturally lives in the vagina.
The hormonal changes during pregnancy creates a suitable environment for the fungus to thrive.
Anything which changes the natural pH (degree of acidity/alkalinity) of the vagina can cause a yeast infection, like taking some antibiotics or having sexual intercourse.
Yeast infections can be treated with over the counter antifungal medicine. However, pregnant women need to consult with their doctor or midwife before using these medications.
Group B streptococcus (GBS) is a bacteria that is commonly found in the body, especially in the vagina and rectum (a part of the intestines).
They are usually harmless and cause no symptoms, except in women with chronic conditions like diabetes or liver disease.
However, caution needs to be taken if you are pregnant as it can be transferred from mother to child. When this happens, GBS could prove harmful and even fatal in a newborn.
This infection may have no symptoms at all, or may be expressed as a Urinary Tract Infection (UTI) in some people.
Common symptoms of a UTI include;
Pregnant women are usually tested for GBS in their last trimester (36 to 37 weeks).
If you test positive, your doctor will administer IV antibiotics during childbirth to prevent you from passing the infection to your baby.
Unfortunately, there is no known way of preventing GBS.
However, administration of antibiotics during labour has been shown to reduce the risk of mother-child transmission.
This is one of the most common sexually transmitted diseases. Thankfully, it is also one of the most curable.
Although it is transmitted mainly through sex, it can also be gotten from damp or moist towels, clothing or toilet seat that get in contact with the genital area.
Recent research has shown that it can be gotten even from swimming pools!
Your doctor will prescribe oral antibiotics to deal with this infection. In addition, it is important to avoid over-the-counter drugs.
A lot of maternal infections can affect a growing baby in three ways;
Therefore, following all the preventive measures above would reduce the risk of you getting an infection or transmitting it to your baby.
Your body undergoes a lot of changes during pregnancy, and increased vaginal discharge is one of them.
Although this is normal, sometimes it can be a sign of a toilet infection during pregnancy. If this happens to you, do not be scared.
Most women who get an infection during pregnancy do not have any serious complications. They are easy to treat once diagnosed. To sum it up, if you experience any unusual symptoms while pregnant, speak to your doctor or midwife.
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