8 Things Expectant Mothers Should Follow for Intimate Care
Pregnancy is undoubtedly one of the most unique experiences in a woman’s life. With a little extra care, pregnancy can be the most joyous journey! While introducing supplements and a new diet are common changes women make while pregnant, a change in intimate hygiene tends to often get neglected.
Vaginal health may not take precedence for every pregnant woman. However, knowledge about what’s normal and what’s not for your vagina during pregnancy will help you prevent possible health issues.
Pregnancy brings with it a surge of hormonal changes, which naturally then reflect in your body’s natural secretions. The most important thing to do then is to keep the intimate area clean. But that’s not all; there are some more ways to care for your intimate area. These will help you go the extra mile to ensure your vaginal health is on point and prepare your body to birth a new life.
8 Things Expectant Mothers Should Follow for Intimate Care
Vaginal health is undeniably essential to prep your body for birthing. It will help you cut down the chances of infections and diseases. Here’s what you can do to ensure complete intimate care during pregnancy:
1. Wash Your Intimate Area
With the change in vaginal discharge, it becomes more important to keep the area clean as it can become breeding ground for bacteria, and cause odour, itching, and discomfort if left too unattended. Only water may not be enough to clean it, and soap could be too harsh on the delicate skin. Therefore, a mild, soap-free intimate wash, such as the Cipla Mamaxpert Intimate Wash, will come in handy to care for and protect your intimate area. Just take a few drops of the Cipla Mamaxpert intimate wash on your palms, form a lather, apply it to your external vaginal area, and rinse it off with water. This product does not contain parabens, irritants, sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) and sodium lauryl ether sulfate (SLES). It has neem extracts that protect against infections, tea tree oil that soothes itching and irritation, and lactic acid that helps maintain normal vaginal pH balance (between 3.5 and 4.5).
2. Keep the Area Dry
After washing the area, you must dry it well, as dampness can worsen itching and irritation. Use a clean, soft, dry, 100% cotton towel or napkin to gently dab the external vaginal area dry. Remember, the vagina releases a natural lubricant; a little moisture is normal!
3. Choose the Right Undergarments
Use light, slightly loose, cotton undergarments to allow your skin to breathe down there. Avoid wearing the ones that are too tight as they can cause sweating and friction. You will need to change your underwear often if the discharge is frequent. Every time you do so, wear a clean and dry pair.
4. Wipe from Front to Back
Wiping the area from front to back after each visit to the bathroom will help you keep any germs or bacteria from coming in contact with your vagina and urethra.
5. Consume a Balanced, Healthy Diet
During pregnancy, your body is undergoing a physiological stress. A healthy diet will keep your energy levels high, provide your little one with the nutrition she needs, and also help you maintain your general and vaginal health. Therefore, a balanced diet with fresh fruits and vegetables is a must. Have some yoghurt on a regular basis and reduce the quantity of sugar in your daily foods to keep weight within the recommended range.
6. Avoid Vaginal Douching
Although some claim that there are pros to vaginal douching, health experts suggest that it can increase the risk of infections and pregnancy complications. It is, therefore, best to avoid vaginal douching and allow your vagina to cleanse itself naturally. You can, however, use an intimate wash, such as the Cipla Mamaxpert Intimate Wash, to keep the intimate area clean. Cipla Mamaxpert Intimate Wash is made to care for mothers in an extraordinary yet gentle way.
7. Avoid Feminine Hygiene Deodorant Sprays
The natural vaginal discharge and hormonal changes might raise concerns about an unpleasant vaginal odour in pregnant women. As informed earlier, a healthy vaginal discharge due to pregnancy hormones is odourless. If you notice discharge with an unpleasant odour, you need to consult your gynaecologist immediately as it could be a sign of an infection. Some women may consider using feminine hygiene deodorant sprays to conceal the smell, which is not recommended as it can lead to irritation and itching. The best thing to do is to consult your doctor to rule out any infection and use an intimate wash to keep the vaginal area clean. Products like the Cipla Mamaxpert Intimate Wash gently clean the area and balance the pH levels to ensure vaginal health. It is carefully formulated with tea tree oil, lactic acid, and neem extracts to protect your intimate area from any irritation, itching, any odour.
8. Stay Hydrated
Every health expert will emphasise staying hydrated to ensure health in general. The skin down there is delicate. Drinking enough fluids will help you flush out toxins from your body and keep the skin hydrated. It also helps take care of vaginal odour, making it less pronounced.
As the pregnancy progresses, your entire body will undergo some more transformations. These tips can help you care for and protect your intimate area in the gentlest way possible and prepare you for the wondrous journey ahead. While some of these tips can be implemented right away, such as eating a balanced diet and staying hydrated, some might need an expert’s point of view, keeping your individual pregnancy requirements in mind.