The fungus Candida Albicans is on the body normally in small numbers and you do not notice it because at those numbers it is not a problem. But conditions can change which causes it to grow and then a yeast infection happens. This can be from hormonal changes, prolonged use of antibiotics, illnesses like HIV or Diabetes.

Symptoms depend on where on the body the infection is and can vary from person to person. Vaginal infections come with itching especially near the vulva, a thick white or yellow discharge almost like cottage cheese, a starchy or yeast smell, swelling, redness of the vulva and pain during sex and urinating.

Sometimes particularly because of the pain when peeing symptom, women think thay have a urinary tract infection and so the wrong treatment is taken. But you can tell the difference if you know what to look for. If the burning pain is when the urine touches the vulva then it is a yeast infection. If the pain is as the urine comes down the tube then that is more likely a urinary tract infection.

If you find your yeast infection symptoms also come with pelvic pains and a temperature then you really must seek out medical help straight away as this means the problem is becoming serious. It is also good to ask a doctor in case you are not sure about your symptoms because incorrect self treating can cause other health problems.

In a normal healthy woman that is not expecting, the Candida Albicans live in the vagina in small numbers, kept under control by good bacteria. But all those bouncing hormones when pregnant allows the fungus to grow and the good bacteria are unable to control them. Also during pregnancy women sometimes find their immune systems are weakened so that the fetus is not attacked as it grows in your womb. All of your body is working towards feeding and nurturing the baby until a successful delivery and so that leaves you vulnerable to things like yeast infections.

Do remember that once you have a yeast infection you can pass it to your sexual partner and then even if you treat it, if he or she does not you can get it back off them. Make sure both of you get treated and practice safe sex; even though you are already pregnant there is still the problem of passing that infection back and forth.

When looking for a treatment it is very important that you talk to your doctor. You do not want to endanger your baby and some treatments may be fine for when you are not pregnant but may put the baby at risk when you are. It could affect the development of the child or cause premature labor. Even if it is a natural remedy discuss it with a professional first.

After the baby is born another factor to consider is whether you are breast feeding as this causes chemical imbalances too. Try to keep a healthy lifestyle and watch your diet for foods like sugar and yeast products as these feed the yeast infection. Be aware because yeast infection and pregnancy is not a toy to play with.

The problem when pregnant is knowing what you can do for treatment that is safe for yourself and your unborn child. The top priority as an expectant mother is to find a pregnancy yeast infection treatment, natural or medicated, that is safe and will not bring on an early labor. You can talk to a pharmacist about over the counter pregnancy yeast infection treatments but whatever method you choose it is important to talk to your doctor first.

This article has four pieces of advice you can use whilst pregnant without any risk to you or your child.

• Diet – Some foods that you can ensure are in your diet will help you re-balance your body’s pH and make it less acidic. These include almonds, pumpkins, carrots, blackberries, lemon seeds, cabbage, sauerkraut, pineapple and onions.
• Clothing – Avoid tight fitting clothes as they trap in heat and make you sweaty. The yeast thrives in warm, damp areas. Loose clothes will help keep it cool and dry down there. Try skirts, loose pants and wear cotton as cotton allows the skin to breathe.
• Go Commando! – When you can, skip the underwear and go commando! This way you are letting air get down there. Otherwise wear cotton underwear for reasons mentioned above.
• Wash and Dry – Make sure you wash thoroughly and very importantly dry thoroughly too. After baths, showers, exercise make sure you clean and dry the vaginal area.

These actions are not going to harm your baby or cause any complications in your pregnancy. There are other natural pregnancy yeast infection treatment you can take but always check with your doctor first.

Firstly it is very important that you make sure you change the diaper regularly. Yeast loves wet and warm areas, and if the baby is sitting in a wet diaper, the yeast is thriving. Occasionally let your baby kick free after taking off a soiled diaper so that it airs out down there. Check that you are not doing them up too tight and trapping in too much heat.

Breast feeding is the best way to feed your baby. But if you are breast feeding, there are some things to watch out for. If you are taking antibiotics while breastfeeding, this can lead to the yeast infection in babies. The prescription is killing the good bacteria (in your body as well as the baby’s via the milk). If you have a yeast infection you may need to consider stopping until you have it cleared up as it can be passed on and this could lead to Thrush. (oral yeast infection).

There are antifungal creams out there that can be used on babies safely. They have an ingredient called miconazole which can deal with the yeast infection if it is only a mild case of it. If the infection persists stop using the cream straight away as your baby may be allergic. There are natural remedies that are a lot safer that you can research about, that do not have the risk of side effects or allergies. It is probably best to consult your child’s doctor for any treatment you try, just in case.

Your baby may be in a lot of discomfort and be upset and crying a lot. Although you may not expect a yeast infection, babies can be affected by it too. It is important that you act as quickly as you can to help them.

Yeast infections can be caused by certain types of antibiotics taken before birth. For example women who are going to be having a C-section may be put on antibiotics which then may lead to the infection. If a woman has a history of yeast infections before becoming pregnant antibiotics may be given just before labor to treat it so that the newborn is not infected. It still happens fairly often that a newborn is born with an oral yeast infections like thrush; Nystatin is a popular drug doctors use, and even Diflucan.

Breast yeast infections and candida generally are more likely to occur during these times because the woman’s hormones are out of balance. When the chemistry of their body is off(as it is during pregnancy) – the woman and the baby are both imbalanced and this allows the yeast to multiply. However, there are some treatments that can not be taken during pregnancy as they may be harmful to the fetus and cannot be taken during breast feeding either,  as they can get into the milk.

The key to controlling that imbalance and stopping infections is your diet is to read food labels and check for sugars, yeast additives and corn syrup which are common in canned and prepacked foods. Too much prepackaged, processed and refined foods are not healthy.  Though foods like this are more convenient they are not healthy and are what cause your body’s chemicals to get out of balance. Eat more fresh foods, vegetables, fruits, whole grains, nuts. If you can afford it buy organically grown food. Not only does this make you healthier over all, it will help you lose that extra baby weight after your angel is born and it will improve your whole household’s health and immune systems.

The woman’s vagina is not the only place a yeast infection can appear. The Candida Albicans bacteria can be over productive, and when this happens, any place where it is dark and contained, warm and moist will easily act like a friendly environment for growing the yeast infection. Other parts of the body where this kind of infection can be found is between the toes, the armpit or even the mouth.

Pregnancy is a natural time for the Candida Albicans bacteria to develop because when all the circumstances are normal in the woman’s life, the bacteria is contained in the vagina in small groups. However, when pregnancy hormones come into play, the bacteria increases in numbers and overtakes the healthy bacteria, so the imbalance results in an infection.

The fetus needs to have a safe dwelling place inside the womb, so while pregnant – the natural defenses of the woman’s system are lessened (so the fetus grows without harm). This makes the body of the pregnant woman susceptible to the yeast infection even in repeated episodes while pregnant.

When this happens, it is best for the health care professional to make an analysis of the symptoms. In fact, especially while pregnant – any kind of treatment for a yeast infection should be discussed with your health care professional before you begin taking it. The wrong method of treatment could either cause a labor to happen too soon or some other kind of damage to the unborn child. The method of treatment can be a home remedy or a natural method as well as a prescribed medication from your physician.

Should the matter of breast feeding the newborn be an issue, it is even more necessary to keep a close watch for any signs of yeast infections during pregnancy. The hormones are greatly affected by breast feeding, which could be another forerunner to an imbalance in the system leading to yeast infection. Take precautions to prevent infections by paying extreme attention to hygiene and healthy living for a safer pregnancy experience.

As for yeast infections, pregnancy does come with this risk; the fact that your body is letting the “guard” down for welcoming the newborn exposes you to risks such as this one – but with the proper prevention, this shouldn’t be an issue.