Q&A: Are creams to treat yeast infections safe during pregnancy?

Yes! That itchy burning discharging aggravating condition can be treated during pregnancy with any of the topical medications. Some are over the counter, while some are prescription only (which in many cases are better covered by insurance). Some are creams while others are ointment based. Or you may prefer suppositories, large ovules that you insert into the vagina. Some people find that one treatment is more soothing than another. The choice is yours. Every yeast medicine is about 80 percent effective by three days. If you are certain you have yeast and relief isn't complete a few days after you finish the treatment, it is reasonable to try another course.

Yeast is a fungus that thrives in warm moist areas. The vagina during pregnancy seems to be one of its favorite locations. Here are some steps to prevent yeast infections:

• Wear soft loose-fitting clothes
• At night let your bottom go bare
• Soak in the tub with plain warm water every day
• Stick with hypoallergenic laundry detergents, and avoid fabric softeners and dryer sheets (even those that claim to be free of perfumes)
• Use a gentle soap like Dove—or no soap at all—on the vaginal area

Several conditions, including contact dermatitis (from an irritant) and even herpes, can mimic a yeast infection. Symptoms that aren't clearly from yeast or that don't resolve after one or two courses of treatment deserve evaluation by a professional.