For every expectant mother, her own health and that of her child is paramount. Proper intimate hygiene during pregnancy is essential to prevent infections that could pose a health risk to you or your baby. This article will explain why this is the case and how you can protect your child from health problems during this time.
Why is thorough intimate care so important during pregnancy?
Thorough and, above all, proper intimate hygiene not only makes you feel better, but also has a number of health benefits for you and your child.
Increased risk of urinary tract infections
During pregnancy, the uterus undergoes significant changes. This makes it easier for bacteria to enter the urinary tract and cause an infection. Proper intimate hygiene helps minimize this risk.
Sensitive mucous membranes
Pregnancy increases blood flow to the vaginal mucous membranes, making them more sensitive. Gentle intimate care helps protect them from irritation.
Hormonal changes
The pH of the vagina is acidic to protect it from external influences such as fungi and bacteria. During pregnancy, hormonal balance changes, and with it, the vaginal pH. Supportive products can regulate the vaginal flora to prevent infections.
Risk of infection for your baby
Some pathogens can be dangerous not only for you but also for your unborn child. To prevent the transmission of diseases, it's important to care for your intimate area to prevent infection from occurring in the first place.
Preventive measures
Infections in the genital area can cause pregnancy complications such as premature labor or premature birth. Bacterial vaginosis is particularly dangerous if it goes undetected. To prevent this, you should pay attention to proper hygiene and use the right products for your intimate health.
Determine pH value easily at home
Vaginal pH self-test
Applicator with an indicator paper for the detection of bacterial vaginosis and genital mycoses based on the pH value in the vagina
What should women pay attention to when it comes to intimate care?
The potential risks may seem frightening at first glance, but incorporating proper intimate care into your daily routine and keeping your intimate flora balanced is not difficult.
Breathable underwear
During pregnancy, the vagina produces more discharge than usual. This is completely natural and nothing to worry about. However, it does lead to increased unpleasant odors. Breathable underwear, such as cotton, allows the skin to breathe better and wicks away moisture. To further minimize odors, it is advisable to change underwear several times a day.
Performing intimate care from front to back
To prevent bacteria from your gut from entering your intimate area, you should make sure to wipe yourself from front to back every time you go to the toilet. This also applies to daily cleaning. This significantly reduces the risk of infection.
Gentle cleansing
Gently cleansing the intimate area is especially important during pregnancy. Hormonal changes make the vaginal flora more susceptible to irritation. Therefore, strongly perfumed products should be avoided.
Tip: Avoid using conventional shower gels on your intimate area, as their pH is usually too high. It's better to cleanse with just water or with special products for the intimate area.
Check the pH value yourself
To detect bacterial infections early and take timely action, you can easily perform a vaginal pH self-test at home. The natural vaginal pH is usually between 3.8 and 4.4. If it is higher, an infection is likely, and medical evaluation is necessary.
Tips for vaginal health during pregnancy
To ensure a comfortable pregnancy without major complications, it's important to maintain your vaginal health. Here are some tips to keep in mind:
- Make sure you have regular checkups with your gynecologist. If something is wrong, your gynecologist will notice quickly and take the necessary steps.
- In order for the mucous membranes in the intimate area to fulfill their function, it is important that you drink enough throughout the day to keep them sufficiently moist.
- As your baby grows, you're more likely to notice vaginal swelling due to increased blood flow. If this causes discomfort or discomfort, talk to your doctor.
- Constipation can lead to hemorrhoids, which in turn pose an increased risk of infection in your genital area. You can prevent this by drinking enough fluids and eating a high-fiber diet.
- Not only your physical health, but also your mental health plays an important role during pregnancy. Try to reduce stress by giving yourself short breaks every now and then.
Proper intimate hygiene during pregnancy is very important. This time is an exciting journey for you and your body, and can sometimes be frightening. But many of the processes your body goes through are nothing to worry about. We hope we've been able to give you some helpful tips.
Always seek medical advice
Important note: This article contains only general information and should not be used for self-diagnosis or treatment. It is not a substitute for a consultation with a doctor.
Does your intimate area feel strange during pregnancy? Is it itching, burning, or is there unusual discharge? You should always have any kind of discomfort checked out by a doctor as soon as possible. This is especially important during pregnancy because of the associated risks. Don't worry, it doesn't always have to be an infection, but to be absolutely sure, you should always see a doctor if you notice anything unusual.
During pregnancy, the vaginal flora is particularly sensitive and prone to infections due to hormonal fluctuations. To prevent discomfort, cleansing the intimate area with asupportive cleansing foam is ideal.
It is usually sufficient to clean your intimate area once or twice a day with lukewarm water and use a suitable intimate care cream for skin care.
For proper skin care during pregnancy, an intimate care cream is the ideal choice. It provides stressed and irritated skin in the intimate area with sufficient moisture and protects the vagina from natural stressors with a moisturizing protective film.
To minimize odor during pregnancy, it is recommended to wear breathable underwear, such as cotton. Regular and proper intimate hygiene is also important for women.
Due to the changes in hormone levels, vaginal discharge increases. As a result, intimate odor may also increase. This is a completely normal process of the body during pregnancy.
Whether or not you shave your pubic area is up to you. Some doctors and nurses recommend stopping using a razor after the 36th week of pregnancy to minimize the risk of infection during labor. Generally, however, it's safe to remove pubic hair. However, due to the increased sensitivity of your skin, you should use gentle methods.
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