You are sitting in the doctor’s office waiting for your doctor to read your test results scared because you know something’s not right, your vaginal area is itchy and you know a yellow discharge can’t be good when your doctor enters and says you have bacterial vaginosis. It sounds horrible and it’s definitely not fun but I am here to tell you that while yes it is hard to handle and does pose some risks it is manageable and you can even have a perfectly normal pregnancy and give birth to a healthy baby. In order to manage bacterial vaginosis during pregnancy it is first important to understand what bacterial vaginosis is. You must also understand the symptoms you may have so that you will be able to recognize that you have bacterial vaginosis. Also, understanding the risks and side effects that may be present if you have bacterial vaginosis during pregnancy is important to you and your baby’s health. Once you are familiar with this learning how to manage your symptoms and understanding the proper treatment used if you have bacterial vaginosis during pregnancy. No matter how scary it seems knowledge is important and once you understand it and know how to treat it having bacterial vaginosis during pregnancy will be easier to manage.
Understanding bacterial vaginosis during pregnancy needs to begin with knowing what exactly causes bacterial vaginosis. Bacterial vaginosis is actually a very common condition in women the problem becomes that there can be more complications associated with bacterial vaginosis during pregnancy. To understand bacterial vaginosis you first need to know that there is always bacteria present in your vagina but normally there is a balance between the good and bad bacteria that is present. Bacterial vaginosis occurs when there is an imbalance between the good and bad bacteria that is present in the vagina. Keep in mind that we may know what bacterial vaginosis is but we do not know what causes bacterial vaginosis during pregnancy.
Now that you know what bacterial vaginosis is you need to know what the signs and symptoms you need to look out for are. Many women are actually lucky and do not experience many symptoms but the first sign of bacterial vaginosis is a foul and fishy odor. Another symptom of bacterial vaginosis is vaginal discharge which may be hard to identify during pregnancy because women do typically have some vaginal discharge during their pregnancy. You must pay close attention to the discharge because typically the discharge associated with bacterial vaginosis is a yellowish color. Perhaps the most noticeable and hard to deal with symptom of bacterial vaginosis is itchiness in or around the vagina. What I have found to be the worst symptom of bacterial vaginosis has been a burning sensation during pregnancy which can be extremely painful at times. If you have any or all of these symptoms it is very important that you seek medical attention immediately because it can affect not only your own health but also the health of your unborn baby.
Normally bacterial vaginosis is more uncomfortable than it is dangerous but when you are pregnant there are more risks and complications that may present themselves. No one knows why exactly bacterial vaginosis will complicate some pregnancies and not others but it is important to take steps in preventing and treating it so that you are not one of the women who experience complications because of it. The first concern with having bacterial vaginosis during pregnancy is an increased risk of preterm labor which can be a serious complication that will affect the health of your baby. There is also a risk for early rupture of the membranes which can be a problem but you must keep in mind that this is simply classified as going into labor before you are 37 weeks pregnant. These complications may also lead to a low birth weight in your baby which is not healthy. After you deliver your baby if you have bacterial vaginosis during pregnancy you are also more likely to have a uterine infection. In all women even without pregnancy if you have bacterial vaginosis you are more susceptible to contracting an STD while you have it so it is very important to practice safe sex. It is important to keep in mind that while these complications are a risk if you have bacterial vaginosis during pregnancy not every woman who has it will have these complications.
It is very important that if you have bacterial vaginosis during pregnancy you get treated as soon as possible so that you do not have an pregnancy complications or risk pelvic inflammatory disease. One method of treatment that a doctor may recommend is using a drug called metronidazole which is most commonly given as either a cream or oral tablet. You may also be given a medicine called clindamycin which can also be in cream, gel, or tablet form and both are safe to use during pregnancy the only thing that will be different is your dosage. It is important that you remember to take the entire course of the antibiotic you are given so that you make sure that it does not come back.
Now that you know all about bacterial vaginosis during pregnancy and how to treat it you need to manage the symptoms. Wearing clean, loose fitting cotton underwear will help to keep the area dry which is very important. You may even need to start wearing a feminine pad until the problem goes away to ensure that you are always kept dry. You must also make sure you always wipe from front to back to avoid spreading it further. It is also important that you don’t douche, use sprays, or even scented soaps because this can just make the problem worse and may make it itch even further. I also found soaking in a cool bath helped with some of the itching. Most importantly I can not stress enough how important it is that you do not scratch, it will only make it worse and even spread. Now that you know all about bacterial vaginosis during pregnancy you can make sure that you receive the proper care so that you keep yourself and your baby healthy.
