The course of pregnancy is accompanied by many phenomena and processes. Immunity during this period weakens, and the woman's body experiences a double load. This condition contributes to the emergence and development of various kinds of diseases, the treatment of which differs in some features. Today we will pay attention to douching during pregnancy, whether it can be used at all, by what means, how to do at home and much more.
What is douching?
First, let's define what douching is. This is such a medical procedure, which boils down to washing the vaginal cavity with a solution that includes medications. This is done in order to destroy harmful bacteria, germs, infections. The procedure is indicated not only for treatment purposes, but also for prevention. It is able to wash the natural environment of the vagina, eliminating lubrication, which leads to the emergence of new diseases. During pregnancy, doctors try not to prescribe this kind of treatment, because it can harm the embryo, especially in the early stages.
Douching from an unwanted pregnancy
Douching is done using a wide variety of solutions. Depending on them, certain goals are achieved. Consider two options - douching as a means of preventing pregnancy or vice versa, increasing the chances of conception.
If a young couple does not need pregnancy at the moment, then means that oxidize the vaginal environment are used. Even in ancient times, priestesses prevented pregnancy by introducing a slice of lemon into the vagina before intercourse. Grape vinegar also helps. We strongly discourage the use of such tools. Douching from an unwanted pregnancy can lead to a loss of chance not only in conception, but also in normal sex life. After all, without calculating the concentration of the solution, a woman can burn herself all the mucous membranes.
Douching for conception
The normal vaginal environment is acidic. Sperm need an alkaline environment so that they can move and live. In the event that, during intercourse, a woman is very excited, and a man exudes a lot of ejaculate, the environment in the vagina changes from acid to alkaline. If a woman is not aroused during intercourse, the environment remains acidic and the chances of conception are significantly reduced. In this case, douching with a soda solution will come to the rescue. It helps to change the environment from acidic to alkaline, which means that the chances of pregnancy after douching increase significantly.
Can douching be used to terminate a pregnancy?
Some women, instead of going to the doctor in case of an unwanted pregnancy and interrupting it, resort to using folk remedies. So, one of the methods of abortion is douching during pregnancy using a solution of potassium permanganate. From the point of view of theory, this is impossible. The fetal egg is located in the uterine cavity, and the vaginal cavity is washed. The solution simply does not reach the embryo, which means it will not interrupt the pregnancy. Instead, a number of other problems may arise. If you use not a weak pink solution, but a saturated one, then the vaginal mucosa will be burned and the natural environment will be disturbed.
Summing up, we emphasize that it is not necessary to use folk and home remedies for abortion. It is necessary to consult a doctor and apply exclusively proven medical methods.
Douching Harm
As a general rule, it is forbidden to prescribe douching during pregnancy, many specialists bypass this procedure when it comes to pregnant women. In contrast to this point of view, some experts, on the contrary, advocate the procedure and consider it completely safe for the future mother and baby. Note why douching during pregnancy is prohibited:
- In the early stages, a risk of miscarriage may occur. The woman’s body has not yet developed all the mechanisms for protecting the baby, so the solution can provoke an abortion. In the last weeks of gestation, premature birth can occur.
- If douching is done with a strong pressure, then air can enter the uterus, which will lead to the death of the embryo.
- A useful microflora is washed out, which performs protective functions. Sensitive vaginal mucosa is exposed to harmful and dangerous microbes, infections.
- Carrying out the procedure at home can lead to mechanical damage to the mucous membrane.
So can douching be done during pregnancy? Having considered the harm to the procedure that can be caused to a woman and her child, we turn to the positive aspects.
The benefits of douching
Some specialists give a clear preference for douching in comparison with other methods of treating various diseases during pregnancy. Consider the positive aspects of the procedure:
- Unlike medicines, douching solutions do not harm and do not affect the embryo. In addition, the procedure enhances the effectiveness of vaginal suppositories, which are used to treat various diseases.
- The passage into the uterus is protected by a mucous plug that forms and condenses during pregnancy. It is this cork that protects the uterine cavity from air and water, which can harm the embryo.
- Douching during pregnancy in the early stages is prescribed in individual cases when it is urgently needed. By appointment of a gynecologist and in compliance with all the rules of the procedure, you can not worry about your health and condition of the baby.
Consider the methods of douching, which can be prescribed by a doctor to a pregnant woman.
Procedure
As we noted earlier, it is important to perform the procedure correctly in order to avoid negative consequences. Consider the process steps:
- You need to buy a syringe with a pointed tip, so as not to cause mechanical damage to the mucosa. With some tools, it comes bundled. If not, then the pharmacist will help you in choosing.
- The medical pear and all the means used for douching must be processed to exclude the presence of bacteria and germs.
- For infusion, if it is done at home, exclusively boiled water is used.
- The position of the woman during the procedure should be as relaxed and comfortable as possible. The pelvic muscles are relaxed. You can sit down, raise one leg and put it on a hill or go to the bathroom. Pre-process everything.
- Squeeze the syringe pear so that air comes out of it. In this position, it is inserted into the vaginal cavity. This will prevent air from entering the uterine cavity.
- The tip must be introduced gradually, without sudden movements, do not go deep.
- The infusion is administered gently, gradually, excluding pressure and a sharp allocation of a large amount of solution.
- The temperature of the solution should not be higher than 37 degrees. The volume of fluid is not more than 300 ml per procedure.
- The course of treatment should not exceed 5 days.
A contraindication to douching is the threat of a miscarriage, in other cases, treatment can be prescribed. In each individual case, the gynecologist decides separately whether it is possible to carry out the procedure or is it better to use other methods.
Early term
Is it possible to carry out douching during pregnancy in the early stages? As we said earlier, the procedure in the first weeks of pregnancy should be carried out as carefully as possible, because at this time there is a high probability of miscarriage.
- In the first trimester of pregnancy, douching by any means (even folk, natural) should be done only in special cases, which are established by a gynecologist.
- It is advisable to seek help from a doctor or nurse who will clearly explain and help to understand the procedure for the procedure. Otherwise, you may be injured.
- It is important to observe the dosage of the decoction, the drug necessary for douching. It is also necessary to follow all the recommendations suggested in the sections above.
- If a pregnant woman has an allergy to any drug or component, you should immediately tell your doctor about it.
Chamomile Solution
Douching with chamomile during pregnancy is one of the safest methods of treatment, which is effective. Indication for the use of such a solution is thrush. Chamomile is able to remove inflammatory processes on the skin and in the mucous membrane, which means itching and discomfort go away. In addition to the solution for douching, chamomile is used in the foot baths, tea and infusion for the oral cavity are prepared from it.
A solution for douching during pregnancy from thrush is prepared as follows. Pour a liter of boiling water and 2 tablespoons of chamomile in a dry form into a saucepan. All this is mixed and put on medium heat. Bring to a boil and make the fire minimal. The solution is boiled for 5 minutes. Using a strainer, filter the mass. Cool to 37 degrees and carry out the procedure.
Soda solution
Ordinary soda helps pregnant women fight thrush. During the period of bearing a child, it is used quite often. The action of soda is to change the environment of microflora - acidity decreases. This creates unfavorable conditions for the reproduction of microbes and eliminates itching, discomfort. If the gynecologist prescribed a procedure for douching with soda during pregnancy, you need to know the following:
- A glass of boiled water is poured into the container, 1 teaspoon of soda is poured there. Mix well so that the soda is dissolved.
- The solution is kept in the vagina for no more than 30 seconds, otherwise it will harm the microflora.
- If a woman has isthmic-cervical insufficiency (premature opening of the cervix or softening it), then douching is prohibited.
Subject to the above recommendations, douching with soda during pregnancy will only benefit, without harming the expectant mother and baby.
Chlorhexidine
The use of folk remedies in the fight against certain diseases is good, but now ready-made medicinal formulations are often used. Chlorhexidine is a colorless and odorless liquid that resembles water. When introduced into the vagina, it disinfects the mucous membrane and destroys the fungi. The procedure is as follows:
- Need to lie in a comfortable position.
- Unscrew the cap of the container with the solution.
- Carefully insert the tip of the vial into the vaginal cavity. The peculiarity of "Chlorhexidine" is that douching during pregnancy can be carried out without douching. The bottle is designed so that it is simply not needed.
- After the introduction of the required amount of solution, it is recommended to lie down for 10 minutes.
- The course of treatment is no more than 10 days, while the appointment should come from a doctor. Self-use is prohibited.
Miramistin
The effect of this drug is similar to the previous one. The device of the bottle is identical. Miramistin is effective not only in the treatment of infections, wounds, sexually transmitted diseases, but also in the prevention of various pathologies. The use of the drug during pregnancy is allowed, because the effect is very soft and delicate. The absorption of substances into the blood does not occur, so there will be no harm to the child.
The use of the drug during pregnancy is allowed only from 14 weeks. During the procedure, a slight burning sensation may occur, which over time passes. At a time, more than 10 ml of the product cannot be injected into the cavity. After administration, it is necessary to lie down for about 10 minutes. Like any other medicine, this is used only according to the doctor’s indications.
Conclusion
Summing up the above, we note that douching in the early stages of pregnancy and during the last weeks before childbirth should be performed only in special cases when the doctor does not see alternative treatment methods. The procedure should be carried out as carefully and delicately as possible. If you have any allergic reactions, you must tell the doctor who will make adjustments to the therapy. The use of douching alone is strictly prohibited, it is necessary to do it only as prescribed by the gynecologist. If you still have any questions, you can watch the video and visually see the pros and cons.