The pregnancy period is an extremely delicate time in a woman’s life. With the body undergoing constant changes, hormones surging, and all the psychological preparation a woman needs while pregnant, it’s normal for life to turn upside down and for things to sometimes get a little confusing.
But it’s precisely during this time that certain self-care practices a woman usually has need to be increased. Paying attention to intimate hygiene, for example, is one of them. As the body changes, the ways to carry out your intimate hygiene change a little too.
Some things you didn’t used to do should start being done and others should be stopped. All of this is necessary so that your body is prepared in the most comfortable and healthy way possible for your baby’s arrival.
Does Intimate Hygiene Affect Health?
It may not seem like it, but the way you take care of your intimate hygiene directly affects your health. Proper intimate hygiene during pregnancy prevents women from developing diseases such as candidiasis, which is much more common in pregnant women than most imagine.
The care that a woman must take with intimate hygiene during pregnancy can affect how comfortable childbirth will be, and most importantly, it provides a healthy, risk-free pregnancy for both mother and baby.
Main Questions Pregnant Women Have About Intimate Hygiene
And considering that pregnancy is often surrounded by doubts, especially when it comes to first-time mothers, we’ll address some topics to clarify the main questions about intimate hygiene during pregnancy, such as:
- What is the best way to practice intimate hygiene during pregnancy
- What to do or not do
- How this can affect your health
- Postpartum care
By knowing all these steps and following them correctly, your intimate hygiene will be on track and free from major problems during your pregnancy.
How to Perform Intimate Hygiene During Pregnancy?
Firstly, some precautions must be taken. One of them is about washing the genital area, which should be done from front to back to prevent bacteria from spreading from the anus to the vagina. Still on washing, prioritize using a neutral liquid soap or even use intimate washes that are lightly scented and color-free. Washing your intimate area once a day is enough.
When using the bathroom, pregnant women should use white, unscented toilet paper or clean themselves with wipes appropriate for the intimate area, but preferably always wash the anal region instead of using toilet paper. Pay attention to hand washing—always before and after using the bathroom, when coming home from outside, and before meals.
Regarding clothing, prefer to use cotton underwear, especially those made for pregnant women. Always try to wear loose, comfortable pants that do not put too much pressure on the vaginal area; the less pressure, the lower your risk of contracting bacteria. Also, do not wear wet swimsuits for long periods, as this can attract fungi and bacteria that may harm your health.
What Should I Not Do?
Gynecologists in general do not recommend that pregnant women completely remove pubic hair, as hair is a natural form of protection for our body. However, trimming hair for hygienic purposes can be done.
In addition, it is highly not recommended to perform intimate higiene with a shower douche, as it can facilitate bacteria entering your body and reaching the uterus, potentially causing complications in pregnancy and even preterm delivery.
How Will This Affect My Health?
As mentioned above, taking the right precautions with intimate hygiene during pregnancy serves as a way to prevent diseases, and is the main weapon to protect your body from bacteria that can cause more serious illnesses and infections.
Of course, even when taking all precautions, a possible illness can still occur, but it is much less likely than if you do not practice correct intimate hygiene. It is important to stress that self-care alone is not enough to completely protect you from disease during pregnancy. You should have medical monitoring and do all the necessary tests to ensure your health—and your baby’s—are up to date.
IMPORTANT: Upon identifying any disease or anomaly, seek medical attention immediately and do not attempt to self-medicate. Besides being dangerous for you and possibly worsening your medical condition, some medications can also harm the baby.
Postpartum Care
After pregnancy, especially in the case of vaginal deliveries, the genital region tends to become more sensitive and vulnerable. That’s why it is also extremely important to keep a close watch on intimate hygiene even after delivery. Imagine dealing with all the concerns of caring for your newborn and still having to address diseases or infections in the intimate area.
Some women experience tearing of the area after vaginal delivery, so the general recommendation is that, after using the bathroom, women clean themselves with water and neutral soap rather than toilet paper, exactly to avoid irritating an already very sensitive area.
Care with Intimate Washing
It is also recommended that women wash a little more frequently, especially in the first days after vaginal delivery. That’s because the body eliminates a secretion similar to menstruation, serving as a kind of cleansing of a woman’s reproductive system after having a baby.
So, changing pads and doing intimate washing more often is important. It’s very common for women to feel overwhelmed with so much information and care requirements for intimate hygiene during pregnancy, but over time, you’ll see these are simple things that will help you avoid problems and have a more comfortable pregnancy.
It’s also completely natural that a woman’s immunity is lower during pregnancy—our bodies reserve more energy to protect the baby and try to ensure a healthy gestation.
This is just one of many changes that happen to a woman’s body in this period. Following these steps, along with good medical follow-up will surely bring you peace of mind and your body will thank you in the future for having taken all these precautions.
See Also: Can Pregnant Women Get a Tattoo?
Photo: brusavalte
