Infection During Pregnancy

Posted by Judy Arbique Jan 17, 2008

An expectant mother is not only responsible for her own health, she is also responsible for the health of her unborn child. Infection during pregnancy can cause harm to the physical and mental development of her child, sometimes serious enough to cause death.

Infection acquired by the baby during birth can also lead to serious or life-threatening illness.

Athough there are common sense practices that can reduce the risk of getting an infection, expecting mothers need to be especially careful to ensure that their fetus is protected from infectious diseases and their effects.

General practices that reduce the risk of getting an infection include:

• Wash your hands often (e.g. after using the bathroom, touching or preparing raw foods, handling pets or soil, caring for and playing with infants and children, contact with sick people).
• Cook meat thoroughly.
• Ask your doctor about which vaccinations are appropriate to you and keep them up to date.
• Avoid other people who are sick.
• Avoid unpasteurized milk and its products (e.g. raw animal milk or cheese).
• Avoid dirty cat litter.
• Avoid rodents (wild or pet) and their droppings.
• Take precautions against sexually transmitted infections (e.g. HIV, hepatitis B).

Get tested for sexually transmitted infections regularly if you are sexually active.

If you are pregnant ask your doctor about group B strep (Group B Streptococcus).

Read more about sexually transmitted infections:

Sources:

Preventing Infections During Pregnancy (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)