My Candida Story

Yeast infection is commonly a problem for women. This is also called monilial vaginitis or vaginal candidiasis. The infections are caused by microscopic fungi, which when in flourished growth would compete with healthy microorganisms protecting the natural bacterial balance of the genitals. The feelings of irritation, itching and burning are experienced. Pregnant women commonly experience this condition due to the higher level of estrogen production causing more glycogen to be released. The glycogen creates feeding environment for yeasts. Moreover, there have been research studies that showed estrogen to be directly responsible for yeast growth. This hormone causes faster growth. It also makes the fungi easier to stick to the vagina walls.

The symptoms of this condition affect the vagina and labia. You may feel one or more of the following: itchiness, irritation, soreness, burning and redness in the said areas. Sometimes swelling may also occur. Other symptoms include white odorless vaginal discharge, pain during sexual intercourse or a burning sensation whenever you take a pee, especially when the urine hits the affected areas. When you experience any of these, you should immediately consult your doctor.

Your doctor would take a sample of your discharge. It would be diagnosed if it is caused by yeast or other conditions you may not know of yet. When others are ruled out, you would be prescribed with antifungal medications. These may be creams or suppositories, which contain clotrimazole or nystatin. The former usually provides more effective results. Oral antifungal drugs are strictly prohibited to be taken in during pregnancy. Use either application for a whole straight week. Bedtime would be the most preferable period so the medication would not easily leak out, as you are not as mobile when you are asleep.

If you are into natural cures, here are other ways you could use. These are guaranteed safe even during pregnancy. When you are already using creams or suppositories, the relief may not be instantaneous. To soothe the itching, put an ice pack or cold compress to the affected area for several minutes. You may also soak in a cool bath for ten minutes. Whenever you bathe or clean your genital area, use warm water. Use unscented soft tissue in wiping. And always wipe from front to back to prevent the fungi from spreading.

Herbal medicine could also be utilized. Pressed garlic may be inserted in your vagina or drank down with water. Take you note that although garlic tabs are usually made with natural ingredients, you should still not opt for them. You could do this a few times a day. Each application should be at most two hours in your vagina. Apple cider vinegar may also provide soothing relief against itching. Mix a cup of the virgin type in your warm bathwater. Do not substitute this with the white vinegar. The high acid content of the latter type would only create thriving environment for the yeast to further growth. You may also take oil of oregano. However, you must consult your practitioner first with the specific brand you would be using. Nonetheless, this herb’s oil is very active in eradicating the bacteria.

Reducing your chances of getting yeast infection could also be accomplished through other preventive measures. Yeast especially flourishes in warm, humid situations. It would be best if you are concerned about the clothes you wear. Opt for those made from breathable cotton. Whenever you swim, do not stay too long in your bathing suit. Immediately change into dry clothes. You may also try not wearing panties or garments tight-fitting your crotch during sleep. When you do so, you are allowing air to circulate in your genital area. If you are not comfortable doing this, a nightgown is preferable than pajama bottoms.

Your eating habits should also be modified. Avoid the foods rich in sugar or complex carbohydrates. These feed the fungi to multiply faster. Also, make plain yogurt a part of daily diet. This contains a live culture of healthy bacteria, which combats the infection. It is also a good source of proteins and calcium you definitely need.

Lastly, you may wonder if this would affect the baby in your womb. The only way the baby would contract it is when you still have the fungi when he passes through your birth canal. He may develop the mouth yeast infection, called the thrush. This is characterized by white patches on the mouth, or sometimes even the tongue. This could be easily treated. Ask your pediatrician about the treatment needed.

Yeast infection during pregnancy is very uncomfortable. A woman wants to enjoy her pregnancy planning the nursery, feeling the new life kick in her belly, choosing a baby name, and the thought of bringing a baby into the world to love and raise. The last thing a woman wants is to be irritated by a candida infection.

The second trimester is the most common time a woman may get a yeast infection during pregnancy. During the second trimester it is normal and common to see a rise in the quantity of white, thin and unusual smelling discharge. (Candida infection discharge has no odor.)

Doctors feel a woman may be susceptible to yeast infections during pregnancy due to lack of sleep, a poor diet, a reduced immune system and may be undergoing a treatment of antibiotics. Also, your body is having a hard time keeping up with the chemical changes in the vaginal area due to your ever changing body. Yeast will feed on the increased sugar secretions in the vagina.

Symptoms a pregnant woman may be experiencing with this condition during pregnancy:

Cottage cheese-like discharge that is white
Possible yellow-like or green-like discharge
A lot of discharge
Itching
Redness
Burning when urinating
Burning when having intercourse

It is important that you know that a yeast infection while you are pregnant will not harm your baby so you do not spend time worrying. You should get rid of it before you go into labor. Otherwise, you may pass it onto your baby. If your baby contracts a candida during delivery it is termed as thrush and is in the baby’s mouth. You can also pass this condition onto the baby through breast feeding.

If you are suffering any of the above symptoms, during pregnancy please seek treatment. Learn about safe, natural, cheap and holistic ways to treat a yeast infection.

Vaginal infection affects many women all around the world, even those who are pregnant. In fact, yeast infection pregnancy also known as Candida is quite common due to the changes of the hormone level (such as an increase in the estrogen level) in their body making them susceptible to yeast problems.

Although it is not harmful, it is still best to get rid of your yeast infection during pregnancy as it can be passed on to the baby during delivery. This infection has also been known to cause problems during delivery in some. It is estimated that about 1/3 of women have this fungus in their vaginas. Like other types of infections those inflicted with yeast infections sometimes need to take antibiotics as medication.

Candida occurs because of fungus overgrowth. Even men are not immune to this.

Signs of a candida infection in women / mom :

itching and burning sensation on the vagina,

painful or uncomfortable during intercourse,

a creamy or white discharge that is sometimes curdy,

a strong odor that comes with this discharge.

they have either a red and bright baby diaper rash on their privates

patches in their mouth of white stuff also known as thrush

Most treatment comes in cream form which has to be inserted every night into the vagina before bedtime. This is for maximum absorption when the body is in a lying position. It is advisable to wear a pantyliner as there will be discharge and leaking of the medication.

Natural remedies are still the best treatment to get rid of your yeast infection during pregnancy. Some of the popular natural treatment includes eating yogurt which contains live active cultures to assist your body to fight the infection off.

Applying plain yogurt (cultures included) directly into the vagina have also been said to give relief as well as heal. Some of the yeast infection causes are quite common, for example, sugar. As yeast thrives on sugar, it is best to cut down on your sugar intake or in your diet.

Vaginal infection pregnancy takes away some of the joy of being pregnant. I know, Ive been there.

Hope this helps. Feel free to check out my website at .

Yeast infection happens when an imbalance in the vaginal environment gives rise to the accumulation of more yeast than is actually normal. On any given day, yeast is found in the vagina but certain conditions occur wherein yeast suddenly grows rapidly and out of control. When this happens, the infected person may experience mild to severe symptoms such as vagina itching , swelling and redness of the vulva, vaginal discharge that looks like cottage cheese but with very little odor. Other symptoms of vaginal yeast infection include pain during intercourse and a burning sensation while urinating.

An oral treatment for yeast infection during pregnancy is out of the question. The infection may instead be treated with the usual vaginal cream and suppository however, it is extremely important to ask the advice of a health care professional before undertaking any type of medication especially when pregnant. Even the use of vaginal creams and suppositories may not be advised by your physician.

It is important to consult your doctor about yeast infection during pregnancy even if you do not have the condition yet. Your doctor should be able to help you understand the conditions and teach you the causes and how to be able to avoid it.

Yeast infection during pregnancy can be very uncomfortable. The symptoms that come with the condition can be uncomfortable for most but especially for pregnant women. It is therefore important to try to prevent it from happening to avoid further discomfort plus the dilemma of medicating the condition.

Avoid the use of underwear or jeans, shorts and pants that are too tight. Try to wear only cotton underwears while pregnant . The use of synthetic material like lycra and spandex add to the heat and moisture to the vaginal area. Bacteria and yeast thrive in these conditions so it is best to avoid them.

Avoid also the use of scented soaps and substances that are not designed for maintaining the correct balance of acids and ph in your vagina. Avoid scented bubble baths and sprays and deodorants. These substances have been noted to upset the acidic balance of the vagina which allows the yeast to grow rapidly in number.

If your diet allows it, be sure to take live cultured bacteria everyday in the form of yogurt . Adding yogurt to your diet has been noted to curtail vaginal yeast infection from happening. There are normally both good and bad bacteria and when the bad bacteria wins out, yeast infection ensues. Taking yogurt daily helps boost and support the good bacteria in the vagina.

While yeast infection during pregnancy is quite common, it is not difficult to avoid it. With the right diet, proper hygiene, advice from your doctor and correct daily practices, one should be able to avoid yeast infection .

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There is no joy like the joy of having a baby and when you conceive, you wish you can scream to everyone but, yeast infection during pregnancy is nothing to scream about because it can be a big bother. Firstly, a yeast infection is caused by a fungus that is found naturally in the vagina. When it overgrows, it will cause the yeast infection. It overgrows due to various reasons and one of them is pregnancy. The yeast cells thrive on the environment created by hormonal imbalance in the vagina. The absence of helpful bacteria enables it to progress and within a very short time, yeast infection during pregnancy has occurred. You will expect to find symptoms that will give you an idea of the condition you have.

Some of these symptoms include itching, soreness, redness, whitish discharge, pain while urinating and others. When you notice this signs during pregnancy, it is not obvious that you have the yeast infection. You might have other conditions and therefore, the next step you take is to see a health professional who will rule out sexually transmitted diseases like gonorrhea and Chlamydia. They must also rule out bacterial infection of the vagina which is also called bacterial vaginosis. This is very vital because these conditions can make the loss of the baby occur. Yeast infection during pregnancy is not a threat to losing the pregnancy and you therefore need to confirm exactly which condition you have, so that you can get the a cure immediately.

Yeast infection during pregnancy can cause a lot of discomfort and they are things that you need to avoid to make sure that the cure that you get is effective. Some of the things that you can do are taking in a balanced diet with an increase intake of green leafy vegetables. When you are pregnant, you are more likely to crave different sweet goodies but, it will be very helpful to avoid a lot of sweet foods because the yeast can thrive because of this reason. When you are considering a cure, you must have a doctor recommend one. There are certain anti fungal medications that can harm the baby and one example is diflucan which is administered orally. It is very strong and you are advised to keep away from it. The most suitable treatments will be the use of creams to use on the affected area.

Your treatment should be followed through until you are totally healed. This is because there are high chances that you can infect your child with the yeast during pregnancy. The most important thing is to make sure that you do not panic. Avoid the stress that may be brought by this condition and by doing this you will be helping your system fight the infection. Do not delay treating the yeast infection during pregnancy so that you can enjoy the remaining period of your pregnancy. There is nothing like new life inside of you ready to be ushered into the world in the healthiest way free from the annoying yeast.

Unfortunately it is true that women tend to suffer more from yeast infections during pregnancy. So, yes, yeast pregnancy is a problem. As our bodies change, the level of estrogen increases, resulting in an excessive production of a sugar known as Glycogen in the vagina. As you can imagine, this is an ideal breeding ground for Candida.

A yeast infection is an overgrowth of the fungus called Candida. This happens when the fungus that is always in our bodies, starts to grow uncontrolled. There are many factors that can cause this and pregnancy is one of them as I’ve mentioned above. This can be the cause of considerable discomfort and many women are afraid that medication may harm their unborn child. Fortunately there is a lot you can do to improve the situation.

What can aggravate yeast pregnancy?

I think it is a good idea to think about the things you can do to help you with your yeast infection.

Wear only cotton underwear; do not even consider all those fancy, pretty lacy things, they are sure to bring along an attack!

Do not use any bubble bath or bath oil as it is known to make things worse or even start an infection

If it is at all possible it is best to take only showers, if a shower is not available do not take a prolonged bath, get in, wash yourself and get out!

Use white unscented soap, none of the “health” or “anti-bacterial” stuff, it kills the “good” bacteria with the “bad” and then the fungus can grow uncontrolled

Make sure you dry yourself properly for the same reason it is not and good idea to stay in wet clothes for long periods

Do not wear any tight clothing, warm and dark places provide ideal conditions for the yeast to thrive

Do not stay in a wet bathing suit for long periods, change immediately after your swim

Eat lots of yoghurt as it contains the “good” bacteria that helps keep the Candida fungus under control

Try and cut out all sugar as it is excellent food for yeast to grow on

The same goes for starches and especially bread as it contains yeast that makes matters worse, when it comes to carbs give preference to non-wheat carbohydrates and whole grains

Try and eat as healthy as possible and cut out as much fast food and convenience food as possible, rather have lots of fresh veggies and low fat proteins

These are some of the measures you can take to try and ease yeast, pregnancy. To get rid of it completely, you will have to take a holistic approach that includes a lot more. Get yourself a good e-book about it and control your yeast during pregnancy the healthy way.

Many pregnant women who are aware of the potential issues surrounding yeast infection will be asking themselves two questions:

- Are they more likely to become infected during pregnancy?

- Could they pass the infection on to their baby?

To answer these questions we first need some background information and to understand the biological causes of yeast infection.

Background information on Yeast Infection

Yeast infection is triggered when Candida bacteria are able to multiply unchecked. We all have various types of bacteria in our bodies and most of them are needed for all round good health. Candida bacteria are normally found on our skin, particularly in the genital areas, in the mouth and in the gastrointestinal tract.

Candida bacteria keep unhealthy bacteria which can be found in our intestines in check and friendly pro-biotic bacteria keep the Candida themselves in check. This is a somewhat delicate internal equilibrium which can be upset under a number of different circumstances.

When this delicate balance is disturbed the Candia can grow out of control and transform from a yeast type into a fungal type. The fungal type can breach the walls of our digestive tract and find their way into the blood stream. Thus allowing bacteria, yeast and partially digested food to invade the body causing localised and sometimes severe systemic infections.

Conditions that allow Candida Overgrowth

Our delicate internal balance can be disturbed in the following situations:

- The use of certain antibiotics can eradicate the friendly bacteria as well as the infection it was intended to treat. The Candida bacteria can then begin to grow unchecked.

- Increased blood sugar levels due to undiagnosed or poorly controlled diabetes can be a significant issue. The yeast love to feed on sugar and this can unfortunately give them the boost they need to multiply.

- In a similar way, poor diet can bring about increased blood sugar levels which allow the yeast to multiply ” and a lack of key nutrients can impair our immune system, jeopardising our ability to fight infections.

- An immune system that has been weakened by recent illness or high stress levels can also be a factor.

- Hormonal changes as a result of the monthly cycle or due to birth control or pregnancy can also be a significant factor in triggering Candida overgrowth.

Is Yeast Infection More Likely During Pregnancy?

The straight forward answer is almost certainly yes. In fact, it is estimated that yeast infection is approximately twice as likely during pregnancy.

A woman’s body goes through a number of changes during pregnancy. These include physiological and hormonal changes which can make overgrowth of Candida more likely.

Many women also experience emotional stress during pregnancy. This can cause the immune system to be weaker than normal and therefore less able to counteract infections.

In addition many pregnant women have food cravings and unfortunately this is often the types of foods that yeast like to feed on.

Can The Infection Be Passed To The Baby?

Unfortunately it is possible for yeast infection to be passed to the baby either during the pregnancy or shortly after the baby is born ” either through giving birth or breastfeeding.

Also, if the woman did not treat her infection at the earliest opportunity, because of the pregnancy, she could be left with a severe case of yeast infection which is particularly difficult to eradicate once the baby has been born.

Is Yeast Infection Treatment Recommended During Pregnancy?

Most conventional anti-fungal medications and prescription antibiotics are not recommended for pregnant women because of possible implications for the baby.

It therefore becomes far more important for pregnant women to find alternative methods of treatment. In actual fact, all types of yeast infections can be treated safely using holistic techniques which use an all-natural approach to tackle both the symptoms and the root causes. For further information please visit my website.