Yeast infections can be particularly hard to avoid during pregnancy, as pregnant women are typically susceptible to developing them. There are, however, things you can do to avoid a yeast infection in early pregnancy. They include wearing loose clothing that allows for good air circulation, wearing cotton panties, and keeping the genital area as dry as possible. Wiping from front to back after going to the bathroom may help as well. Additionally, you may avoid a yeast infection in early pregnancy by adding yogurt that contains lactobacillus acidophilus to your diet and limiting the amount of sugar you consume each day.
One of the things you can do to avoid a yeast infection in early pregnancy is wear loose clothing that allows your skin to breathe. Cotton is typically a good choice. Avoiding tight clothing that does not breathe is particularly important in the genital area. Doctors often recommend that women who wish to avoid yeast infections wear cotton underwear or at least choose underwear that has an all-cotton crotch.
Keeping the genital area dry is also important as you work to avoid a yeast infection. You may do well to change out of wet swimwear as soon as you are finished swimming, for example. The same goes for exercise clothing that could get damp with sweat from your workout and contribute to the development of an infection. Clean, dry clothing is a good defense against a yeast infection.
Taking care with the way you wipe after going to the bathroom also may help as you attempt to avoid a yeast infection in early pregnancy. Doctors typically recommend wiping from front to back, especially after you've had a bowel movement. If you wipe from back to front, you risk not only the development of a yeast infection, but also other bacterial infections.
You may also work to avoid a yeast infection in early pregnancy by eating yogurt that contains lactobacillus acidophilus. This friendly bacterium is said to boost the immune system and help to prevent yeast infections. Consuming less sugar may help as well.
Many women get a vaginal yeast infection in early pregnancy, and you may develop one even if you work hard to prevent it. Fortunately, they are usually easy to treat with over-the-counter medications that are administered vaginally. Additionally, you may be less at risk during the first trimester than later in pregnancy. Women in the second trimester are often more likely to develop this type of infection than those in the first trimester.
