Decrease Yeast Infection During Pregnancy
The first time that you become pregnant, you were probably overcome with a rash of different emotions. Of course, many people are surprised by their first pregnancy, but if they are in a stable place in their lives, this surprise will quickly give way to immense joy. They there is the pleasant task of informing all your close friends and family members that they are soon going to be welcoming a new person into the world. Once the initial glee has worn off, you will likely start to think about all the ways that you will have to protect the health of your new family member. You will also have to think about all the ways that your own health and body will be affected by the new process. Most people don’t realize that they are at an increased risk for yeast infection during pregnancy. But just a little bit of education will help you to avoid this condition.
First of all, you have to realize that while we most often associate it with an uncomfortable condition, yeast is a fungus that always is present in the body. Known as Candida, yeast is usually kept in check by positive bacteria in the body that are part of our body’s natural defense system. However, if you become sick, are being treated with several types of antibiotics, or you are eating a diet that encourages the growth of yeast in the body, you might develop this infection without even knowing it. Because pregnant women have to support the growth of another life form, they are typically at risk for this type of yeast growth. The worst part is that yeast infections can make you feel even more uncomfortable than you already do when you’re pregnant.
You can prevent yourself from being at risk from yeast infections by attempting to remain as clean and healthy as you can. When you find out that you’re pregnant, you should scale back on the amount of unnatural sugars that you ingest, such as high fructose corn syrup and white processed sugars. Foods that contain these substances are the perfect food for feeding the yeast in your body. Drink lots of water and try to get your sweet fixes from foods that contain honey, agave and fruit juices. You will also want to limit the amount of unhealthy starches that you consume, as these are only converted into sugar once they enter the body.
If you do develop a yeast infection during your pregnancy, you should know that it is not the end of the world. The most important thing to do is visit your doctor right away. This way you can be sure that you are indeed dealing with a yeast infection and not something else. Once you have been diagnosed with this condition, you will have to choose whether to treat it holistically with ointments and diet, or whether you will get on a medicine for it. Keep in mind that anything you ingest is also being consumed by your unborn baby.
