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Vaginal yeast infections, also known as Candidiasis, or Candida albicans commonly occur during pregnancy. Vaginal yeast infections are caused by the Candida albicans fungus.

Yeast infections occur frequently in pregnant women due to fluctuating hormone levels and increased vaginal discharge during pregnancy. Yeast thrives in a moist environment.

What are the Signs and Symptoms of Yeast Infection?

Symptoms of vaginal yeast infection include:

• thick, cottage cheese-like discharge
• itching, burning and redness of the vagina or labia
• burning when urine touches your genitals
• pain during intercourse

How is a Yeast Infection Treated?

If you think you may have a yeast infection, contact your health care provider.

Yeast infections, or Candida infections, can be treated with over-the-counter vaginal creams and suppositories, prescription creams or oral medication.

Your health care provider will be able to diagnose your condition by taking a vaginal culture. There are other causes of vaginal irritation that could cause similar symptoms, including bacterial infection. It is important to have a proper diagnosis for treatment to be effective.

Do not use over-the-counter medications before contacting your health care provider.

Is a Yeast Infection Harmful to My Baby?

Yeast infections are not harmful to your baby when you are pregnant, but can be transmitted to your baby during childbirth. This can cause an oral form of candida to develop in your baby which is known as thrush.

What Can I Do to Prevent Yeast Infections?

You can help prevent yeast infections by the following:

• Keep your vaginal area clean and dry
• Avoid douches
• Avoid scented toilet paper
• Avoid feminine deodorant perfumes and sprays
• Wear cotton underwear, or at least underwear with a cotton crotch
• Wear loose fitting clothes to help prevent heat in the pelvic area
• Remove wet swimsuits immediately after swimming.
• Change your underwear if it is damp from sweat
• Avoid perfumed soaps and scented laundry soap
• Wipe from front to back
• Try eating yogurt with a live culture. You could also take a beneficial bacteria supplement, such as acidophilus. Beneficial bacteria are known as probiotics.
• Try limiting sugar intake. This can allow yeast to grow.

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Many women will have an increase in vaginal discharge during pregnancy. A normal vaginal discharge in a pregnant woman should be thin, white, and mild smelling.

What are the Signs and Symptoms of Vaginal Infection?

Vaginal infection, or Vaginitis, is characterized by the following symptoms:

• Greenish or yellowish discharge that is strong-smelling
• Redness of the vulva or vagina
• Itching, burning or irritation of the vulva or vagina

What Types of Vaginal Infections Occur During Pregnancy?

Vaginal infections can be the result of Candidiasis, Trichomoniasis, or Bacterial Vaginosis.

Candidiasis

Candidiasis is caused by a yeast organism known as Candida albicans. It can cause a thick vaginal discharge and burning. Candidiasis is treated using a vaginal cream, suppository, or antifungal medication. Yeast infections may recur during pregnancy.

Trichomoniasis

Trichomoniasis is an infection caused by an organism called Trichomonas vaginalis. It causes a gray or green vaginal discharge and itching around the vulva. The infection can cause preterm labor if untreated. Treatment is an oral medication.

Bacterial Vaginosis

Bacterial Vaginosis (BV) is a bacterial vaginal infection that is common during pregnancy. It causes abnormal vaginal discharge which has a foul odor. Some women complain of a fishy odor. Discharge is generally white or gray, and may be accompanied by burning during urination and/or itching around the vagina. Treatment is with antibiotics.

How Can Vaginal Infections Be Prevented?

Vaginal infections can be prevented by keeping the vaginal area clean and dry, wearing loose fitting clothing, wearing underwear with a cotton crotch, and avoiding douches and feminine sprays.

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Vanishing twin syndrome, also known as twin embolisation syndrome, is a condition in which one or more of a set of multiple fetuses disappears from the uterus during pregnancy.

With the use of ultrasound in early pregnancy becoming commonplace, there is an increasing awareness about vanishing twin syndrome. Early detection of twin and multiple pregnancies has made this phenomenon increasingly noticeable.

It is estimated that as many as 1 in 8 pregnancies begin as twin pregnancies. The presence of twins is not always diagnosed. Because in some cases vanishing twins disappear without a trace, it is difficult to say exactly how often the condition occurs, but it is thought that as many half of all pregnancies that begin as twin pregnancies may result in a single full term baby.

Vanishing twin syndrome, or twin embolisation syndrome, was first discovered in 1945.

The use of IVF and other assisted reproductive technologies (ART) frequently result in vanishing twin syndrome.

How is a Vanishing Twin Diagnosed?

Typically, an ultrasound is performed early in the first trimester (at about 6-8 weeks of gestation) which identifies more than one fetus. When the mother returns for future prenatal exams, only one heartbeat is detected and another ultrasound is done, which confirms there is only a singleton pregnancy.

What Happens When a Twin Vanishes?

In the case of a disappearing twin, the second fetus dies and aborts spontaneously. The fetal tissue gets reabsorbed by the mother, the placenta, or the other twin, and seemingly vanishes.

In some instances, rather than being completely reabsorbed, the aborted fetus will remain and become flattened by the remaining fetus. This results in a condition called fetus papyraceus.

A vanished twin is often the result of a chromosomal abnormality, placental abnormality, or blighted ovum.

What are the Signs and Symptoms of Vanishing Twin Syndrome?

Vanishing twin syndrome may bring with it no symptoms at all. Sometimes there is mild cramping, bleeding and pelvic discomfort. Symptoms may be similar to a miscarriage. It is sometimes possible to detect decreasing hormone levels indicating that one fetus has been reabsorbed.

Are There Any Complications that Result from a Vanishing Twin?

If the vanished twin occurs early in the first trimester of pregnancy, which is most frequently the case, and becomes reabsorbed, there are generally few or no complications which result.

If the vanished twin occurs late in the first trimester, or in the second and third trimesters, complications may include premature labor, infection, hemorrhage, and obstruction of the cervix.

In the condition of a vanished twin, there may be an increased likelihood of cerebral palsy in the remaining twin, particularly if the event occurs in the second trimester.

If a fetus papyraceus remains, it is possible that it can block the cervix.

Emotional Effects of Vanishing Twin Syndrome

If you have been diagnosed as having a vanishing twin, you may be experiencing a variety of emotions. You might feel grief, frustration, or guilt.

Some women feel that they may have done something to cause the condition. Vanishing twin syndrome has not been linked to anything in the mother’s control. It seems to be a spontaneous occurrence, most often due to a chromosomal or placental abnormality.

In most cases, the mother will be able to enjoy a full term healthy pregnancy with the remaining single baby.

Take the time to grieve your loss if necessary, and seek the help of a friend, therapist, or other healthcare provider when needed.

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Urinary tract infections, also known as bladder infections or cystitis, are a common problem during pregnancy. As your uterus expands, it places pressure on the bladder and the ureters, the tubes that connect the kidneys and the bladder. This leads to a greater susceptibility to urinary tract infections.

What are the Signs and Symptoms of a Urinary Tract Infection (UTI)?

It is not uncommon to have a urinary tract infection and not notice it at first.

Symptoms of urinary tract infection may include the following:

• frequent urination
• urgency to urinate
• burning in the urethra or burning upon urination
• pelvic pain
• back pain in the area of the kidneys
• urine may be foul smelling, cloudy, and possibly contain blood

Are there Risks Associated With Urinary Tract Infection (UTI)?

A urinary tract infection can be dangerous in the event it spreads to the kidneys. Kidney infection can cause preterm labor. Symptoms of a kidney infection are the same as a bladder infection. Additionally there is often a fever, chills, blood in the urine, backache, nausea and vomiting.

If you have these symptoms, contact your health care provider immediately for treatment.

How is a Urinary Tract Infection (UTI) Treated?

UTI is treated with antibiotics. If the infection has spread to the kidneys, IV antibiotics may be necessary.

Can Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs) be Prevented?

Urinary tract infections can often be prevented by the following:

• Make sure you are consuming adequate fluids, especially pure water.
• Don’t hold your urine in. This increases the likelihood of infection.
• Always wipe from front to back to prevent bacteria from entering the vagina.
• Avoid perfumed soaps, deodorants, and toilet tissue.
• Empty your bladder before and after intercourse.
• Drinking unsweetened cranberry juice has been proven to help prevent infections.

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What is Toxoplasmosis?

Toxoplasmosis is a disease caused by a parasite called Toxoplasma gondii. It can be contracted by eating meat which has not been properly cooked or through contact with cat feces.

Toxoplasmosis can cause flu-like symptoms in adults, or possibly no symptoms at all, but can be transmitted to the fetus.

Is Toxoplasmosis Harmful for My Baby?

If toxoplasmosis is contracted for the first time during pregnancy, the infection can be passed on to the fetus. Babies who have been exposed to toxoplasmosis in the uterus often have no symptoms at birth, but will later develop serious complications such as mental retardation and blindness. Some may have eye or brain damage at birth.

The risks to the baby are the greatest if infection occurs during the first trimester. Infection with toxoplasmosis can also cause miscarriage, intrauterine growth retardation and preterm labor.

How do I Know if I Have Toxoplasmosis?

Your health care provider can perform a blood test for toxoplasmosis.

How Can I Prevent Toxoplasmosis?

You can protect your baby from toxoplasmosis by protecting yourself. Take extra care when washing your hands. If you have had contact with soil, raw meat, unwashed vegetables, or cat feces, wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water.

Be sure to only consume meat that is completely cooked. Freezing meat for several days before cooking can minimize the risk of infection through meat. Wash all cooking utensils thoroughly with hot soapy water after each use.

Make sure to wash all fruits and vegetables before eating them.

When gardening or in a sand box wear gloves and wash your hands thoroughly following exposure.

If you have a cat, get someone else to change the litter box. If this is not possible, wear gloves when handling cat litter and wash your hands with soap and water afterward. Changing the litter box daily will help prevent infection from spreading.

Feeding your cat dry or canned food will help prevent infection. Raw foods can cause toxoplasmosis.

Do not get a new cat if you are pregnant.

Can Toxoplasmosis Be Treated?

If you have become infected during pregnancy, there are medications available to treat toxoplasmosis. If you have become infected your health care provider will monitor you and your baby closely.

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There are a variety of sexually transmitted diseases and infections which can be dangerous for the fetus and or the mother during pregnancy. Most of these diseases are easily treated and diagnosed.

It is recommended that all pregnant women be tested in early pregnancy for sexually transmitted diseases.

The following are the sexually transmitted diseases and infections that are of concern during pregnancy:

Bacterial Vaginosis (BV)

Bacterial Vaginosis (BV) can cause pregnant women to have babies which are born prematurely or with a low birth weight.

BV can also spread to the uterus or fallopian tubes. When this occurs, it is known as pelvic inflammatory disease (PID).

This infection can be treated with antibiotics.

Chlamydia

Chlamydia infection can be passed from the mother to her baby. About half of all women with Chlamydial infection have no symptoms.

If your test is positive you will likely be treated with an antibiotic and your partner will be tested and possibly treated as well.

Antibiotic ointment can be used at birth to protect the newborn from a Chlamydial eye infection. Chlamydia can also cause pneumonia in newborns and pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) in the mother.

Gonorrhea

Gonorrhea can cause eye infection, blindness and serious infections in a baby delivered through the birth canal of a woman with an infection. It can also lead to preterm birth and cause pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) in the mother.

Gonorrhea infection can be treated with antibiotics.

As a precaution, if you have tested positive for gonorrhea your health care provider may put antibiotic ointment in your baby’s eyes when it is born.

Hepatitis B

Hepatitis B is a viral infection of the liver. It can cause damage to the liver in the mother and can infect the baby if it is not treated within an hour of birth.

A newborn which is born to an infected mother will be given immune globulin after delivery and possibly a hepatitis vaccine.

Herpes

Herpes is a viral sexually transmitted disease. A serious herpes outbreak during early pregnancy may cause miscarriage. There is a greater risk to the fetus when herpes virus is contracted during pregnancy.

Women who have active herpes lesions when labor begins will usually have a caesarian birth in order to prevent transmission of the virus to the newborn.

Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)

HIV infection is dangerous for mother and baby alike during pregnancy. Pregnancy may speed up the disease in the mother, and 20 to 65 percent of babies born to HIV positive mothers will acquire the infection within the first 6 months of life.

Treatment of the mother with antiviral drugs during pregnancy reduces the chance of the virus being passed on to the baby. Caesarian delivery further reduces the risk of transmitting the disease to the baby.

Human Papilloma Virus (HPV)

HPV is a virus that causes genital warts. If the mother has HPV and the warts are severe, they may obstruct the vagina and complicate the birth. Chances of transmission to the baby are low. It is possible for the baby to contract the virus in the birth canal.

Rarely, HPV can cause warts to develop in the baby’s throat. These warts may need to be removed with laser surgery and generally recur. If untreated, they may block the baby’s air passages.

Syphilis

Syphilis can cause birth defects and miscarriage. It is treatable with antibiotics. This disease can be transmitted to the baby in the womb or in the birth canal.

Trichomoniasis or Trich

Trichomoniasis does not usually cause any serious illnesses, but can cause preterm birth. It is treatable with medication.

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