Pregnant women use vaginal cleansers, is it safe?

During pregnancy, many hormonal changes occur. Besides being able to changemood, hormonal changes during pregnancy can also affect the condition of your vagina. Pregnant women may experience vaginal discharge more often so that the vagina feels itchy. So, to fix this, is there a feminine cleanser that is safe for pregnant women?

Is it okay to use feminine cleansers for pregnant women?

Nowadays, many vaginal cleaning products have sprung up, making women and pregnant women interested in using them.

Moreover, if you see the benefits that claim to clean the vaginal area.

Quoted from the Marshfield Clinic Health System, good vaginal hygiene during pregnancy will help prevent infection.

Feminine cleansers for pregnant women can be used if the pH level is the same as the acidic vagina, which is at the 4.5 level.

Then, you can also use feminine cleansers that are safe for pregnant women. For example, vaginal cleansing products that contain Povidone-Iodine.

Povidone-Iodine is an antiseptic agent that can control the spread and development of topical infections so that it can overcome various pathogenic bacteria.

However, also pay attention to the frequency of use. Do not be too often because the vagina actually has its own mechanism for cleaning itself.

Not only that, the vagina produces fluid that can protect it from bacterial attack.

Also keep in mind that when using feminine cleansers, it is enough to clean only the outside of the vagina.

Feminine cleaners for pregnant women that need to be avoided

Just like cosmetics for pregnant women, this may depend on the type and content in the cleanser.

Some vaginal cleansers may have ingredients that can upset the balance of good bacteria.

This of course needs to be avoided because it can actually make the infection more prone to occur.

Therefore, you should avoid feminine cleaning products for pregnant women that contain glycerin, coating oils, fragrances, and parabens.

Not only that, doctors also recommend that women and pregnant women not do douching because it causes bacterial overgrowth.

Douching fluids contain various chemicals that can upset the pH balance of the vagina.

Its contents can pose a risk of douching, such as getting rid of natural bacteria in the vagina and replacing them with new bacteria so that infection occurs

This infection can then spread to the fallopian tubes, cervix, and uterus, causing pelvic inflammatory disease and other health problems.

In addition, you are also not advised to use bath soap as a feminine cleanser that is safe for pregnant women.

If you have sensitive skin, this can also lead to infection, dry skin, and irritation.

We recommend that you choose vaginal cleansing products for pregnant women that can help restore pH balance and are recommended by doctors.

Why should you pay more attention to the vaginal area during pregnancy?

Quoted from the American Pregnanct Association, one of the changes or conditions that pregnant women may complain about is vaginal discharge.

It is important to know if vaginal discharge during pregnancy is normal if the signs are watery, white, and have a mild odor.

Therefore, you need to inform your doctor about this to know about safe feminine care and cleansing for pregnant women.

This is also to prevent vaginal infections in pregnant women such as candidiasis or yeast infections. There are also other types of vaginal infections such as bacterial vaginosis.

This condition occurs due to an increase in the hormone estrogen during pregnancy, which can then result in vaginal discharge and a sour smell.

The increase in estogen hormone causes pH levels in the female sex organs to change. However, changes in the number of good bacteria in the vagina are still within normal limits.

Changes in the vaginal area make pregnant women more susceptible to bacterial attack that can cause infection and irritation.

Infections of the vagina are not only dangerous for the mother, but can also harm the fetus.

So, it is recommended that pregnant women maintain the cleanliness of their female organs during pregnancy.

How to keep the vaginal area healthy during pregnancy

It has been explained before that it is permissible to use feminine cleansers that are safe for pregnant women.

However, if it is not a medical condition, you should still treat it by minimizing the use of certain products.

Here are some ways that pregnant women can do to keep the vaginal area clean and prevent excessive vaginal discharge during pregnancy, such as:

Clean the vaginal area regularly at least twice a day.

Keep your vagina dry, especially after showering or from the toilet
Clean the vaginal area from front to back to prevent bacteria or fungi from the anus that can spread to the urethra
Simply clean the vagina with warm water
Avoid wearing tights, this can make the vaginal area moist so that it is more susceptible to bacterial infection
Wear cotton pants that absorb sweat easily

Another thing that needs to be considered for women and pregnant women, cleaning the vaginal area does not need to be too frequent.

Too often it is also not good because this can disturb the balance of good bacteria that protect the vagina.