During pregnancy, the woman’s body undergoes many hormonal changes which can lead to extra sweating, discharge in the vagina, less lubrication, nipple leaks, and more. These changes at times make the woman feel very uncomfortable especially when it is her first time.

Why is Hygiene Important during Pregnancy?

When pregnant, the vagina gets open because it acts as a passage for the child to come out upon childbirth The vagina being open can easily get germs in if not properly well taken care of.

That is, during the second trimester of the pregnancy, the woman can easily get a yeast infection which will cause the vaginal discharge to change to thin, whitish, and odd-smelling which at times also leads to itches. This can be controlled so when you find such changes and discomfort, it is good to see your doctor with immediate effect.

Another infection that can occur in pregnant women is Bacterial vaginosis, which causes your discharge to be green or grey with a fishy smell.

To avoid such infections during your pregnancy, below is a list of some do’s and don’ts during pregnancy.

What to do and what not to do during pregnancy
  1. When you want to wash your private part, make sure you wash it with clean water.
  2. Do not use any harsh soap or chemicals to wash your vulva or even the outer part of your vagina.
  3. Don’t wash on the inside of the vagina – it has a self-cleaning mechanism with the vaginal discharge keeping it cleansed naturally.
  4. When you are pregnant, do not wash your vagina more than two times a day
  5. Change your underwear every day
  6. After emptying your bowels, wipe from front to back and never the other way around.
  7. Do not allow pubic hair to overgrow down there. During pregnancy at a certain stage shaving down, there could be a problem. In case you are married ask your husband to help you trim the hair. In case you are not married and there is no one to help you out, you could go to a hospital where they can do it for you.

During pregnancy, you will feel uncomfortable at times but know that it is a time to take good care of yourself in all aspects because you are taking care of both you and the little one growing in you. Any infection you in cure because of poor hygiene can cause affect the baby. So be very very careful.