Pregnancy & Oral Thrush

Oral thrush is a yeast infection in your mouth caused by the Candida fungus. Candida is a naturally occurring yeast fungus in your body that usually does not cause any symptoms unless it starts to multiply out of control. Yeast can grow when the body's hormonal or acid/alkali balance changes during pregnancy.

Hormonal changes in pregnancy can lead to oral thrush.

Candida Fungus

The same Candida fungus that causes vaginal yeast infections causes oral thrush. Both of these types of yeast infections are common during pregnancy due to hormonal changes in your body.

Symptoms

Oral thrush symptoms include white or yellowish spots on the tongue. Your tongue may bleed and feel painful. To confirm that you have oral thrush, your doctor should scrape your tongue and send it in to a lab for testing.

Complications

If thrush is not treated, it can spread down your throat and make it difficult to swallow. This can lead to malnutrition, which can harm mother and baby during pregnancy.

Treatment

Thrush is treated with oral antifungal drugs that your doctor can prescribe. Eliminating sugary foods form your diet may help in controlling oral thrush. The yeast fungus multiplies in a sugary environment from a diet high in sweet sugary foods. Reducing foods high in processed sugar may help.

Yogurt

Acidophilus and yogurt contain a good bacterium called lactobacilli, which balances yeast. Acidophilus pills are available in capsule form as well.