Vaginitis
Vaginitis covers a lot of
conditions that cause annoying vaginal symptoms, such as itching,
burning, irritation and abnormal discharge. The most common causes of
vaginitis are bacterial vaginosis, vulvovaginal candidiasis and
trichomoniasis. Bacterial vaginosis is the most common of the
conditions and is discussed below.
Bacterial Vaginosis (BV).
It’s estimated that more than 15% of all pregnant women have bacterial
vaginosis (BV) during pregnancy. It is the most common vaginal
infection in women of childbearing age. Some experts believe it may be
caused by douching and sexual intercourse. It is also more common in
women who have an IUD.
BV is caused by an imbalance or
overgrowth of several types of bacteria that exist in the vagina.
Bacterial vaginosis can cause problems for pregnant women.
It may be difficult to diagnose BV
because bacteria can also be found in healthy individuals. Nearly half
of the women infected have no symptoms. For those who do, they may
experience symptoms similar to those of a yeast infection, including
itching, a vaginal odor that is “fishy,” painful urination and a
gray-white vaginal discharge.
Your healthcare provider can detect the
problem by testing vaginal discharge for BV-causing bacteria.
Antibiotics are used to treat the problem. Seven days of metronidazole
(Flagyl) is the treatment of choice.
If left untreated, BV can cause you problems. If you have BV, be sure it is treated.
Fibromyalgia
Fibromyalgia affects between 3 and 6
million Americans every year; 80% are women. It causes muscles all over
the body to ache, burn and twitch. If you suffer
from it, you probably ache all over, especially in the arms, lower
back, shoulders and neck. You may also feel tingling in the fingers and
toes. Severe fatigue, headaches, sleep problems, abdominal pain and
gastrointestinal problems may also be present. Some sufferers
experience anxiety and depression.
The problem usually begins during early
adulthood or middle age and causes chronic pain and other symptoms.
Symptoms can come and go throughout a person’s life. Although
fibromyalgia is believed to be genetic, it may lie dormant until
triggered by a trauma, such as childbirth.
Fibromyalgia can be hard to diagnose, and
a person may suffer for a long time before finding help. It is more
common if a person also suffers from irritable bowel syndrome, celiac
disease or lactose intolerance.
Fibromyalgia and Pregnancy. We don’t know a lot about fibromyalgia during pregnancy. We do
know fibromyalgia won’t harm your baby. Pregnancy can be a time of high
stress, and physical and emotional stress are known triggers for
fibromyalgia.
During pregnancy, your body produces many
hormones, which may affect your disease. Studies have found some women
experience more severe symptoms during pregnancy. The third trimester
may be the worst, and symptoms may last as long as 3 months after birth.
Other researchers believe pregnancy helps
lessen fibromyalgia symptoms. Some women have said they felt better
during pregnancy. This may be the result of the production of the
hormone relaxin. Relaxin supplements have been found to help ease
symptoms in many women with fibromyalgia. During pregnancy, the amount
of relaxin in a woman’s body increases up to 10 times!
If you suffer from fibromyalgia, bring it
up at your first prenatal visit. At this time, there is no cure, and
treatment is limited. The FDA has approved the drug Lyrica to help
manage pain. Antidepressants and pain suppressants may also be used to
treat symptoms. Discuss the use of any of these medicines with your
healthcare provider. To help ease pain, acetaminophen is safe to use
during pregnancy.
Exercise may offer
relief. Some types of exercise to consider include yoga, exercising in
the water, Pilates and stretching. Massage therapy may also help—look
for a massage therapist with experience treating fibromyalgia pain who
can safely perform massage on a pregnant woman.
It may help to apply moist heat to the affected area twice a day. A warm shower or bath is a good way to apply moist heat.
8. Exercise for Week 21
Like the Kegel exercise, you can do this
exercise just about anywhere. Standing or sitting, take a deep breath.
While exhaling, tighten your tummy muscles as though you were zipping
up a pair of tight jeans. Repeat 6 or 8 times. Strengthens tummy muscles.
Do this second exercise after you’ve been
sitting a long time, such as at your desk or in a car or on a plane, or
when you have to stand for long periods. When you’re forced to stand in
one place for a long time, step forward slightly with one foot. Place
all your weight on that foot for a few minutes. Do the same with the
other foot. Alternate the leg you begin with each time. Stretches leg muscles.
