Need to ward of the yeasties

[averymybaby]

Well, the yeast infections are back! I only get them while pregnant. :eyesroll I need to keep them GONE GONE GONE this time. The only tricky part is I never have any symptoms... :p So I think I'd like to try a bunch of things - probiotics, acidophilous, etc.

What is your tried-and-true no-yeasties routine? What supplements? How much? All safe during pregnancy?

I picked up some "AZO yeast" and acidophilous at Target. What should I do with it? :LOL

[captain crunchy]

dunno about what you bought, but I have never gotten a yeast infection in my life! Part of it I am sure is genetics/body chemistry etc, BUT...I would like to think part of it is because I am good about warding them off before they happen!

Cotton is the key, but I am sure you know this..fancy underwear is great, but cotton all the way baby...

vinegar, vinegar, vinegar...okay we all know, (or should know by now) that douching isn't necessary and a lot of times actually detremental...however, vinegar is a natural PH balancer and it neutralizes yeast, warding off an overgrowth...I usually put some on a washcloth and use it like a baby wipe if you know what I mean...no douching, just a good um, how would you say it...wipe down? (sorry if tmi) but it really is effective...

Yogurt is wonderful, but many women make the mistake of getting the fruity kind which is kind of like eating yogurt flavored sugar as far as probiotics are concerned. Know this...despite what the packaging says, the cultures are only "live" when they are packed (when you get the fruit kind) the acid and sugar of fruit breaks down any live cultures and basically kills them, so you are eating yogurt for nothing. The best kind to get is plain or vanilla, as those cultures are live and active...

You can also apply plain yogurt right on the source to ward off/treat yeast overgrowth...works the same as eating it, just faster and well, more to the point...you apply it as you would a monistat or something, right in your vagina and around your vulva, wear a thick pad cuz it can get messy!...and keep it in there a few hours/overnight...

Those are some tried and true tricks that have worked for me (except for the actual yourt in my vagina, as I have never had a yeast overgrowth) ...but it has worked for friends of mine!

good luck to you!

[gerbera girl]

I have been plagued with yeast infections in my breasts with this pregnancy (still breastfeeding 21 month old DS). I've found grapefruit seed oil to work wonders. Works equally well with any yeast infection. You should be able to get it at most health food stores. (Note this is grapefruit seed oil, NOT grapeseed oil.) It tastes revolting - I've got it in the form of drops that you take in a glass of water - but I think you can get it in the form of capsules too. I notice the results very quickly.

HTH

Melanie

[CathToria]

eating yogurt, kefir, and avoiding sugar in the diet are helpful.

[henhao]

Yeast infections show up in other places besides "down there." For me, it shows up in my skin. I get red reashes, etc.

What works for me is no refined sugar, more yogurt, more raw apple cider vinegar, lots of salads and veggies, and eating more protein and fewer carbs. I also take acidophilus when it's bad.

Good luck!
hh

[lisser]

I kept getting the yeasties off and on for the first 4 mo. of this PG. What *finally* kicked it was:

Take Acidophilus
Eat one container of Bio K+ (super yogurt, expensive, but WORTH IT!) a day for 2-3 days, then once a week, or "as needed"
Also use the Bio K+ vaginally...works FAST!!
Wash down there w/ baking soda (stings a bit), then rinse w/ approx. 1/4 c. apple cider vinegar diluted in 1-2 cups of water.
Have DH rinse his nether region w/ apple cider vinegar solution as well.


Good luck!

Lisser

[Annik]

Bummer about the yeasties. There's lots of good advice here, though. Avoiding sugar and refined carbs is essential, but so difficult!!

I had lots of problems with that the first time around, but this time I take a probiotic supplement called Threelac twice a day and I've been yeast free so far (25 wks). Threelac is expensive, though, and you have to mail order it. I just saw an advertisement for another product called Essential Formulas that sounds promising. I'm going to try it as soon as I find a local source. The web site is www.essentialformulas.com.

By the way, a friend just took her daughter to the pediatrician for an ezcema problem. The doc (she's fab) told my friend that a recent study found that women who take bifidus during pregnancy greatly reduce their child's risk of developing ezcema. Cool, eh?

Good luck!
Annik