Yeast Infection Cure?

[Greenlea]

I am new here - Hello! I thought maybe you guys could give me some tips on being pregnant and having a yeast infection. I am currently 13 weeks along with my 2nd child.

I am having major insurance issues so I cannot go to a doc right now. I don't know if I can use an over the counter drug or if those are bad for the baby. I'm hoping to do something a little more natural.

Any suggestions or help?

[Greenlea]

Wow kinda surprised I haven't gotten any replies on this yet. Hmmm...

Last night I noticed that this infection is getting pretty bad. It's red all over down there. So I found some info that an apple cider vinegar & water douche would help, but I thought vinegar had yeast in it so I didn't do that. Plus, I thought you weren't supposed to douche while pregnant - not sure though.

So I just sat in a bath with epsom salt, which did help with soothing it. And then I put on a topical fungal cream. Not sure what else to do though. I'm trying to get in to see a doc, but other than going to a free clinic, not sure what to do.

[MaerynPearl]

apple cider vinegar sitz bath (basically sit in the tub with enough water to cover you down there and about a cup of vinegar thrown in) Vinegar does not have yeast in it... not sure where you heard that. It is REALLY beneficial because it helps keep you from developing bacterial vaginosis after the yeast infection is gone as well. (This is ESPECIALLY helpful if you actually have BV and not a yeast infection. Early in this pregnancy I went to my doctor for a yeast infection and was told it was actually BV... yeast infection meds would not have done anything for me.)

using garlic helps too (though I have never done it so hopefully someone else can explain how to?)

Also... yogurt!

Do you already belong to a practice? Most will allow you to call in to ask the nurse things (like if over-the-counter yeast infection medicine would be okay) and don't charge you.

[sweetestday]

I culture my own kefir, and if I begin to get a YI, I drink bunches. It really helps fast! Better than yogurt, I think.

[wholewheatchick]

I have been able to find a few homeopathic suppositories at health/natural foods stores.

You can also take probiotics (50 billion cultures/capsule or dose is best) and this often works better than eating PLAIN yogurt.

Limit refined sugars, yeast breads, and even fruit, if you can.

You can also take a medicine syrine and put PLAIN yogurt in your vagina; lay down for a while after this (I did it right before bedtime).

I've also heard good things about peeling a clove of garlic, taking care not to "nick" it, and inserting it into your vagina, than using kegels to get it out in 4 - 6 hours. I've also read about peeling and cutting a few cloves of garlic into chunks that you then swallow the way you would vitamins.

[Gingercat]

Originally Posted by wholewheatchick

I have been able to find a few homeopathic suppositories at health/natural foods stores.

My OB, who's a homeopath, always recommends calendula suppositories for yeast infections. Here I can find them in large conventional/homeopathic pharmacies.

Another thing that she often prescribes that is also very effective is this, Himalaya V-gel, completely natural and safe over pregnancy.

I'm sorry to tell you that once you have one yeast infection during pregnancy it'd keep coming back probably until you give birth.

I had my first YI around the same time you did (first time in my life as well, did not even have one on my first pregnancy!) and although all these natural approaches worked for me (also tried the garlic suppository) it keeps coming back

Now, after battling a yeast infection naturally for a whole month I resorted to over-the-counter medical suppositories because I'm fed up with it!

For relieving the itchiness I find that Vitamin E (drops or gel) with a few drops of TTO work wonders. Cool plain yogurt helps too. You can also try calendula infused oil.

Here I must add that my diet is super careful with almost no refined/ sugary foods. And I do take probiotics daily and drink kefir.

Good luck, I feel you

[ASusan]

peeled garlic clove vaginal suppositories. Nicking it does allow some of the good juices to come out, but this feels burning to some. Change the clove every 8 hours or so, for 3+ days. Follow up with probiotic pills, inserted vaginally, to re-establish good flora, as the garlic will kill most everything in there.

Coconut oil is soothing, too.
Rinse in the shower with ACV to keep things at bay.

[violet_]

Drink lots of kefir and take strong probiotics -- you know, the kind in the refrigerated section at the health food store.

[splath]

I used organic plain yogurt internally the last time I had a YI. It worked overnight.