Daily pads during pregnancy: can I wear it?

Finally, the pregnancy test showed two strips that symbolize the way to a new life filled with hope and excitement. Yes, with the onset of pregnancy, the life of a woman changes radically. Not only is the woman from now on not alone, and every second next to her is a beloved and coveted baby growing in her womb, requiring special attention to herself. So there is a need to change their attitude to some familiar things, for example, to women's gaskets. No wonder the topic "Pregnancy and pads" causes such a lively discussion among expectant mothers.

Why laying during pregnancy?

It would seem that with pregnancy a new life began without monthly, bringing discomfort and pain, which means that the need for sanitary napkins should disappear by itself. But panties in this period, alas, did not become cleaner and drier, and therefore you need to take some measures to maintain intimate hygiene, which will help the future of May feel more comfortable.

The optimal way out is that many women consider using daily pads during pregnancy, which are usually quite enough to protect underwear from soiling. But many obstetricians and gynecologists refer to the possibility of using pads with much less optimism, considering them unsafe even beyond pregnancy, although the categorical "no" does not sound like that. So it remains unclear whether it is possible to wear gaskets during pregnancy or from such a comfortable achievement of science will have to be abandoned?

It is this issue that causes the greatest number of disputes, both among doctors and among young mothers. On the one hand, intimate hygiene during pregnancy becomes even more valuable, because any infection that penetrates the woman's sexual way, is dangerous for the child. But on the other hand, the probability of infectious lesions increases during this period, and the pads, according to many doctors, take an active part in this.

Unfortunately, the question of the appropriateness and safety of the use of female pads, as one of the means of intimate hygiene, is discussed mainly in forums created by the mothers themselves. There, women share information obtained from doctors who observe them during pregnancy, as well as information from personal experience using gaskets.

Judging by the posts, pregnancy in women proceeded in different ways, and therefore someone had a need to use pads or other methods of protecting underwear, while others did well without them. But let's look at this question from the point of view of physiology.

A little anatomy and physiology

The woman's vagina is the entrance to her holy of holies, where one day a new life can be born (not without the help of a man). Created from muscular and fibrous connective tissue, the vagina is lined with a mucous membrane, which has a different thickness and quite large folds in the lower part. The mucous organ is designed to perform a protective function, inhibiting the penetration of the infection into the main reproductive organ - the uterus, and also greatly facilitate the passage of the child by birth.

To prevent drying out of the mucous organ and maintain a normal balance of the microflora contained in the vagina, the body releases a special secret characterized by a semi-liquid consistency, a whitish shade and an acidic reaction (pH can normally range from 4 to 4.5). Through this secret, the infectious factor is released outward.

In the surface layers of the epithelium of the mucosa in significant quantities contains a special substance - glycogen. It is thanks to this substance that spermatozoa, getting into the vagina, remain active for a period of time necessary for passage through the birth canal and conception. Glycogen is a kind of nutrient medium for the male secret that carries in itself an important chromosomal information for the fertilization of the female ovum.

The second important function of glycogen is the maintenance of vital functions of lactobacilli, a sufficient number of which provides a healthy microflora of the body, and the vagina in particular. It is the glycogen of the vagina that is responsible for the acid reaction, which blocks the way into other microorganisms, including pathogens, which simply can not reproduce and live in such conditions.

Pregnancy brings to the body many different changes affecting the reproductive sphere, which are due in most part to changes in the hormonal background. Under the influence of hormones, there is an increase in blood circulation in the pelvic organs, the thickness of the mucous layer of the vagina increases, the connective tissue becomes more loose, and the muscles begin to grow strongly, increasing the folding of the birth canal.

Under the influence of progesterone, which is considered the main hormone that supports the normal course of pregnancy, the amount and quality of natural secretions varies. The amount of vaginal discharge depends on the period of pregnancy. As the gestation period increases, so does the amount of secretion found on the panties. The greatest amount of secreted is observed on the eve of birth, because such a lubricant is needed to ensure that the child's movement through the internal genitalia during labor is not inhibited due to friction. Thus, nature allows you to avoid traumatizing the tender mucous membrane of the vagina, and, most importantly, to prevent fetal hypoxia due to delay in the birth canal.

Changes in the quality of precipitates are primarily due to changes in pH. The increased content in the vagina of glycogen, which by fermentation turns into lactic acid, changes the pH to the acid side, and it becomes approximately equal to 3.3.

It's good or bad, it's impossible to say unequivocally. On the one hand, the acidic environment helps to protect the future mother's organism against the penetration of certain bacterial and viral infections into it by sexual means, for which such living conditions do not fit. But on the other hand, acidification of the vagina helps increase the risk of reproduction and growth of fungal infection. This is mainly about fungi of the genus Candida, which cause vaginal candidiasis or a simple thrush.

The hormonal imbalance is also reflected in the functioning of the immune system of the pregnant woman, which is a risk factor for the penetration of various infections in the future mother's organism or activation of already existing, but up to some time, "dozing" pathogens of various diseases, as can be seen from the change in the nature of the discharge. But after all, any infectious lesions represent a certain danger for both the future mother and the fetus in her womb.

Readers will ask, but what does the gaskets have to do with it? According to the doctors, any pads, both hygienic and daily, contribute to the creation of a greenhouse effect at the entrance to the vagina. The reason for this are synthetic materials and films that protect underwear from moisture penetration, and at the same time do not allow the skin to breathe. And heat and moisture are just the conditions that are necessary for the active growth of bacteria and fungi.

But that is not all. Increasingly, manufacturers of hygiene products began to use fragrance impregnations for gaskets, which are capable of causing allergic reactions. And this is an additional burden on the immune system. In addition, rashes and itching on the genitals not only cause some discomfort. Irritation and inflammatory foci on the skin and mucous membranes, which are complicated by the greenhouse effect, facilitate the penetration of various bacterial factors into the woman's body and again provide fertile soil for reproduction.

Danger can also represent the physiological discharge on the pads. Accumulating on the pad during the day, they are able to attract pathogenic and conditionally pathogenic microorganisms that can live on our skin, not to mention the remains of feces that can not be completely removed by toilet paper alone. It is impossible to exclude the possibility of infection from the environment (gaskets are attached to underwear and do not exclude the contact of the external microorganisms with external microorganisms touching the external genital organs).

On the possibility of using pads during pregnancy

Many mothers agree that it is very difficult to do without gaskets during this period. Despite the fact that a woman can temporarily forget about the hated menstrual discharge (and at the same time save on hygiene pads), other physiological excretions that we observe day by day in scant amounts, on the contrary, can intensify. Walking all day with dirty laundry is unpleasant and unhygienic, because any vaginal discharge can be considered a nutrient medium for various kinds of bacteria and fungi. And changing panties 3-5 times a day is not always convenient.

It's hard not to agree with the fact that changing the gasket is much more convenient than constantly changing your underwear, especially if you are out of the house. Alternatively, you can return to the old "grandfather" methods, and use as a gasket an old cut cotton sheet or a gauze cut. But again, it is less convenient than one-time "everyday", which many people are not able to give up in favor of tissue pads, no matter how morally or physically, even under the pressure of doctors and posts from the Internet. So where is the way out of their current situation?

Let's put it bluntly, doctors during pregnancy recommend, but do not insist on changing hygienic and daily pads for tissue pads. They advise as often as possible to change during the day underwear. And not only because of discomfort (women feel not clean enough, besides there can be a specific smell), and in order to make the allocation on panties do not cause infection of a pregnant woman, dangerous not only for her, but also for the baby. Do not forget that a large percentage of premature births is associated with intrauterine infection, not to mention the consequences that can occur after the birth of a child.

But during pregnancy, not only hygiene is important, but also the psychological state of the future mother. If she constantly experiences negative feelings due to secretions and the inability to solve this problem comfortably, this will not be the best way for her well-being. In order to avoid additional trauma to the already strained nervous system (excitement due to increased discharge, experience during pregnancy and the life of the baby), when it is impossible to dispense with gaskets, it is better to use them, observing certain rules:

• For the hygiene of the genital organs, there are few gaskets. For the purity of the genitals and anus, you need to follow constantly, regularly using for this purpose water and special means for intimate hygiene, maintaining the acid-base balance of the skin and mucous in the norm.
• It is not recommended to use gaskets for a long time. Their use is justified, if a woman is forced to stay away from home for a long time, and does not have the opportunity to frequently change her underwear.
• Using daily pads during pregnancy (and not only), they should be changed as often as possible (from 3 to 5-6 times a day). This will prevent infection of the genital tract with bacteria that accumulate on the gasket itself. For the same reason, doctors recommend frequent changes of underwear and pads, if they are stained with physiological secretions.

Care should be taken and the choice of gaskets. You need to pay attention to their composition and the presence of perfume. It is better to give preference to the means of intimate hygiene based on natural eco-materials. Some types of pads are also attributed to the medicinal properties safe for the organism of the pregnant woman.

For example, on the Internet pages recently information has appeared on innovative anionic gaskets, the action of which is based on the therapeutic properties of negative ions used in the therapy of many pathologies. According to the guarantee of manufacturers of these unique hygiene products, anionic gaskets can eliminate inflammatory processes in the genitourinary system, improve local immunity and metabolism in the vaginal mucosa, promote the preservation of useful microflora and the destruction of pathogenic microorganisms, remove irritation of the itching and unpleasant odor.

First, doctors treated the novelty in the environment of means for intimate hygiene with a certain degree of mistrust. But recently, more and more often they themselves suggest using these gaskets even during pregnancy. Dysbacteriosis of the vagina is a dangerous condition for both a woman and an unborn child, but if anion pads help to avoid such a dangerous phenomenon, they also improve the condition of the reproductive organs, so why not try to apply them at a time when this is especially important.

In any case, before using usual or anionic pads during pregnancy, it is necessary to visit a district gynecologist and consult the safety of specific hygiene products.

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Is there any benefit from pads during pregnancy?

Up to this point, we have talked about the fact that pregnancy is a period when in the body of a woman such processes and changes take place that, for all their good, can cause dangerous infectious pathologies, and gaskets can only help in this. But if these means of hygiene brought only harm, they probably would have been stopped long ago. If you use "dailies" rationally, you can avoid troubles (though, as well as embarrassments with "dirty" panties).

Many mothers may not know about it, but in some cases, pads during pregnancy can even benefit, helping in time to diagnose various abnormalities in the health of the sexual sphere of women. Usually the top layer of these popular hygiene products are white, which is very convenient in the sense that on a white background you can accurately assess the color of physiological excretions.

Yes, you can buy a pair of white panties for this purpose (do not forget about the daily frequent change of linen), which later will have to be thrown out. Yet under the influence of different vaginal discharge they will lose an attractive appearance much faster than color ones. But is it not easier to use gaskets when observing unusual stains on panties, which even for a short time will help to assess the situation and describe it to the doctor.

But what kind of discharge to be during pregnancy can leave its mark on the pads, and what will they talk about?

Before the onset of pregnancy, the amount and nature of natural vaginal discharge varied with the menstrual cycle. After monthly discharge, there were scant, almost invisible. By the time of ovulation in the middle of the cycle, their number increased and they somewhat changed their appearance, becoming more viscous, transparent or with a whitish hue. These secretions are designed to increase the likelihood of conception of the child when it enters the vagina of the male seed. In the second phase of the menstrual cycle, the secretions lose their transparency and viscosity, turning into a white mass of greater density.

After the conception takes place, the woman's body begins to gradually prepare for an important event. The rate of excreta that is found on the lining during pregnancy, now depends on its timing.

Since there is no need to create conditions for activation of spermatozoa and conception of a child, the allocation acquires a viscous, rather viscous character. They are opaque with a whitish shade, and somehow resemble post-ovulatory discharge.

Gradually, the number of secretions increases, which should not be particularly worrisome for a woman, because her body is set up for the successful course of labor. At the latest terms, excretions can be particularly strong and slightly change their character. Mucous discharge with blood veins indicate the early onset of labor. This is the so-called slimy plug, which can go away completely or in parts over a period of time.

A large number of excretions before birth is not pathology, but the need for easy sliding of the baby through the birth canal.

When should I see a doctor?

Whatever character has a vaginal secret, it should not bring pregnant discomfort. Specific smell, discoloration and character of secretions, as well as suspicious symptoms in the form of edema of genital tissues, hyperemia and itching should disturb the future mother and become an occasion for an extraordinary visit to the gynecologist.

Normally, the discharge should have a slightly whitish tint and a semi-liquid, viscous consistency. If they changed their appearance, they became white and more dense (like cottage cheese), an acidic smell appeared, most likely, it is a fungal infection, whose name is thrush. Additional symptoms of the disease are puffiness and reddening of the labia, the appearance of discomfort, intensifying during bathing, going to the toilet or sexual intercourse, itching and burning in the genital area (especially in the evenings and at night), the appearance of a white coating on the external genitalia.

If the pathology is not treated, during childbirth, the risk of infection of the baby with a fungal infection that requires special treatment with antifungal agents is high.

If on a lining at pregnancy yellow allocation is found out, to the woman is over what to reflect. If they are few, there are no inclusions of blood and foreign smell, there is nothing to worry about. Most likely, the reason for such changes was the use of underwear made of synthetic fabrics, impregnated liners, improper soap or simply inadequate hygiene of intimate places. If you remove all of these factors, the selection is back to normal.

It's another matter if the smell of the detachable has changed simultaneously with the color. The appearance of an unpleasant odor and a change in the shade of the vaginal secretion to yellowish or greenish indicates that a bacterial infection has settled in the birth canal. It is likely that the infection has penetrated into the body sexually, ie. During sexual contact (gonorrhea, chlamydia, trichomoniasis, etc.). However, we should not exclude the violation of the microflora of the vagina under the influence of the same pads.

In some cases, infection does not occur during pregnancy, but much earlier, but the pathogenic microflora for the time being slumbers in the body of a woman. The impetus for the activation of pathogens is hormonal restructuring, which somewhat reduces the defenses of the organism. Chronic inflammatory pathologies of the genitourinary system, which arise most often due to lesions of staphylococci, E. Coli or fungi, are a particular danger.

It is also necessary to be afraid of acute pathologies that have developed already during pregnancy, especially in the early stages, since they pose a great danger of abortion due to the weakness of the connection of the egg to inflamed uterine tissues. Even if miscarriage does not happen, there is a danger of infection of the amniotic egg, which is fraught with various pathologies of fetal development. In any case, the inflammatory process in the body will have to be treated during pregnancy, since it is very dangerous to linger in such a situation.

The appearance of abundant transparent mucous membranes or watery discharge (sometimes with foam) can indicate the manifestation of an allergic reaction to synthetics in clothing or hygiene products, because during pregnancy the sensitivity of the organism to various allergens appreciably increases. Very often, along with secretions, there is a certain discomfort in the genital area (irritation, itching, burning, as in the case of fungal infection).

By the way, on a lining such allocation remain practically imperceptible, however its raised humidity is felt.

Wet gasket during pregnancy can also speak of approaching childbirth. Watery discharge (transparent or with a yellowish tint) without a smell or with a slight "aroma" of ammonia is a sign of the onset of labor. Pregnancy comes to a logical conclusion, but with amniotic fluid can go away as much (there too, gaskets will not help), and little by little.

If it's too early to give birth, and the pad is permanently wet, this indicates a violation of the integrity of the amniotic fluid, which in this case is a great danger. It is necessary to urgently seek help from doctors who decide whether to keep the pregnancy on or to begin stimulating labor and how to help the baby.

Blood on the lining during pregnancy should alert the woman at any time. Most often this symptom indicates a great threat of pregnancy disruption or placental abruption, which is dangerous for the life of both participants in pregnancy: the mother and her child. The appearance of blood on the laundry or pad - an occasion to immediately call an ambulance, without waiting for the morning or more appropriate time. And it does not matter whether the bleeding is painful or not.

It happens that the blood is allocated with scanty portions and a short time, i.e. Bleeding as such is not observed. This phenomenon can result from active sexual contact the day before, polyposis of the uterus, gynecological manipulation with careless damage to the walls of the vagina. Dangers of the above situations in most cases do not represent. However, it is only the doctor who can determine the cause of the appearance of spotting, and only he decides whether to remain a pregnant woman in the hospital under supervision, or she can safely return home, but behave more cautiously.

To consult at the doctor costs and at occurrence of brown vydeleny on a lining in days of a cycle, corresponding or meeting menses.

By the way, when it comes to secretions containing blood, doctors are categorical. Gaskets should be replaced with natural fabric pads, which are better than "daily" or sanitary pads to determine the nature and especially the volume of secretions, which allows the doctor to judge how critical the situation is.

In late terms on the eve of birth, excreta in the form of a lump of transparent mucus with blood veins (sometimes slime millet has a pink color) should not scare the expectant mother. This is a signal to which she will soon see with her own eyes the long-awaited baby and she needs to prepare for this event.

Pads after pregnancy

Pregnancy and preparation for childbirth is a long and complex process, accompanied by various changes in the body of a woman and logically ending with the birth of a child. But in fact on it weight does not come to an end. After giving birth, the newly mummy's body should recover, and this is another 5-6 months.

Despite the fact that the birth of a baby is always accompanied by a loss of blood, the mother's body will lose it for at least a month. Abundant discharge with blood is called lochia, and they serve as an indicator of purification and recovery of the uterus, which was under great strain all 9 months of pregnancy and during childbirth.

Week and a half of the selection will be very strong, and a little later will resemble menstrual. At this time, it is simply impossible to dispense with the means of protecting the laundry. But daily gaskets are unlikely to be useful in this situation.

Doctors recommend using tissue pads from absorbent natural materials, but you can go more easily and practical way and purchase special sterile postpartum pads. In principle, if the birth was successful, there were no tissue ruptures, and conventional non-woven sanitary napkins with a large absorbency, as evidenced by the number of drops on the package.

And still it is better to use special sterile postnatal pads, which will have less to change, and even the sensitive external and internal genital organs after infection will save them better than the usual hygienic ones.

Pads for the chest

Pregnancy, accompanied by all kinds of changes in the body, can not but affect the woman's breasts and mammary glands, and gaskets here are unexpectedly useful. The closer to childbirth, the more a woman notices how her breast grows, and with time there is also a discharge from the nipples of a translucent whitish liquid - colostrum.

This process is considered normal, because the body of the future mother is preparing not only to reproduce the little man, but also give him the strength to live and resist the negative factors of the environment. In the mammary glands of a woman after the birth begins to produce breast milk, provided with all the necessary nutrients for the child and vitamins, which help maintain and strengthen his immunity. But so far in the chest is a prototype of mother's milk, which can gradually stand out.

Trying to decant leaks colostrum categorically forbid, but what about a woman who is forced to leave the house, and ugly spots appearing on clothes, just do not allow to feel comfortable at the same time? But there is always a way out. You can lay in the bra all the same fabric pads or buy in the store special pads that are put in the linen to protect it from getting wet.

This will help the mother to look neat and comply with hygiene requirements that promote the preservation of the health of the breasts and the child receiving food from them. Gaskets are good and that by absorbing liquid, on the surface they remain practically dry. Ordinary pads can not provide this, and in the cold, their use can be even dangerous because of the high probability of breast supercooling and the development of mastitis, while the pads will help ensure comfortable conditions for the breasts.

Such special pads will also be useful when the pregnancy is safely resolved by birth. They can be used during walks, if the mother has a lot of milk, and it sometimes flows out onto the clothes. By the way, many women use usual sanitary napkins to protect clothes and linen from soaking, in which they can hardly be reproached. This is also an option, when special gaskets are not available. After all, a happy mother should always be on top, and an untidy appearance does not help it.