Cranberry Juice & Pregnancy: Safety & Benefits

Question
i am 26 weeks in my pregnancy and i was wondering if drinking cranberry juice is ok to drink while being pregnant to help get ride of the yeast infection? And if drinking cranberry juice to much during a pregnancy can cause a miscarriage?  

Answer
Dear Victoria,

Yes, you can drink cranberry juice regularly during pregnancy. Fortified cranberry juice can be an excellent source of calcium or vitamin C and contains an array of other nutrients necessary during pregnancy. Unfortunately, drinking cranberry juice is unlikely to completely cure your yeast infection. Cranberry juice can be helpful in aiding in the prevention of a urinary tract infections and sometimes has been suggested to help in preventing yeast infections, along with eating yogurt. However, more often than not, because of the higher levels of estrogen during pregnancy, women develop yeast infections easier. You should make sure your doctor is aware of the yeast infection and you can be treated for it with either a topical cream or an oral medication and it should be gone within a week.

To avoid yeast infections recurring, you can try the following things:
- Avoid tight-fitting, synthetic fiber clothing, leotards, or girdles.
- Wear cotton panties and panty hose with cotton crotches.
- Wash regularly, and dry thoroughly. Use your blow dryer on a low, cool setting to help dry your genital area.
- Always wipe from front to back after using the restroom.
- Shower immediately after you swim, and dry thoroughly. Change out of wet swimsuits or other damp clothes as soon as you can.
- Change underwear and workout clothes right away after exercise.
- Don't douche or use feminine hygiene sprays, sanitary pads, or tampons that contain deodorant.
- Don't use bubble bath or colored/perfumed toilet paper.
- Eat nutritious foods including yogurt with lactobacillus acidophilus; limit sugar intake, as sugar promotes the growth of yeast.
- Get plenty of rest to make it easier for your body to fight infections.

I hope this has helped you and answered your question. I wish you well and apologize for the delay in answering - I have recently moved and am in a mess. :)

Brenda