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Ask A Midwife

Q. Dear Pat:

Hi, my name is Melissa and I'm 10 weeks pregnant. I just noticed last night I have a yeast infection. I'm going to the grocery today to get some yogurt. Is there anything else "natural" that I can take to cure my infection? Should I be alarmed or is it normal to get them during pregnancy? Before I became pregnant, I was prone to them.

Thank you for your time in this matter.

Sincerely,
Melissa

A. Yeast infections are very common in pregnancy, in some women. They are made worse when you take antibiotics, or eat lots of sugar. Plain yogurt with acidophilus can help balance the vagina out, and might take care of the infection. If it persists, check with your health care provider. Watch the food you eat that are high in sugar, and also, some of the complex carbohydrates (corn, peas, some whole grains) are also considered to have a high glycemic index.

Pat Sonnenstuhl is a semi-retired nurse midwife with over 30 years of experience in health care (first as an RN, then as an ARNP, CNM). She has experience with hospital nursing/midwifery and home and birth center midwifery.

Two areas of special interest to her are GBS and nutrition.

She is about empowerment, and helping folks find their own answers, what is right for them, not what is right for her. But, she wants you well informed.