Infections in Pregnancy

By Debra A.

No matter how careful and hygienic you are, during pregnancy you will still come into contact with viruses and bacteria. Some infections in pregnancy can be easily treated with antibiotics and do not affect the baby. Others can cause problems for the developing baby. Here are some of the more serious infections:

Rubella (German measles)

Catching rubella in the first four months of pregnancy can damage a developing baby's sight and hearing. It can also cause brain and heart defects.

All children are offered a vaccine against rubella (via the MMR immunisation) at around 13 months old, with a second immunisation before starting school. But not all parents take up the offer therefore there are incidents of rubella.

If you come into contact with rubella while pregnant and are not immune speak to your GP at once. They will carry out blood tests to decide on a course of action.

Cytomegalovirus (CMV)

This is a common virus in the herpes group of viruses. It can cause cold sores and chickenpox.

This virus can cause problems during pregnancy affecting the unborn baby's sight and/or hearing and causing learning difficulties and epilepsy.

If you are pregnant and have never had chickenpox in your life you should take extra steps to avoid the risk of contamination - especially if you are around small children.

Always wash your hands regularly using soap and hot water. Don't kiss children on the face and do not share food, utensils or drinks with little ones.

You can have a blood test to find out if you have ever been infected with CMV.

Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs)

Chlamydia is the most common STI but all STIs are on the increase. Often an STI has no symptoms but many can affect a baby both during pregnancy and after birth.

If there is any possibility that you or your partner could have an STI get checked out as soon as possible so you can be treated in the most suitable way for your stage of pregnancy.

HIV and AIDS

All mums-to-be are offered a confidential HIV test as routine. Counselling and care will be available if the result is positive.

Current evidence suggests that a pregnant woman with HIV who is in generally good health otherwise, can carry a healthy baby safely to full term. However HIV-positive mothers can pass the HIV virus on to their baby through breast milk.

Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C

These viruses infects a person's liver. Some people with hepatitis B or C present no signs of the illness but are carriers and infect others. The viruses are spread by body fluids (during sex without a condom, or contact with infected blood). Hepatitis B can be passed on to a baby at birth via the mother's infected blood. A pregnant woman with hepatitis C can pass the infection on to their baby, but the risk is lower than with hepatitis B or HIV.

Genital herpes

This infection can be caught through genital contact with an infected person or from oral sex with someone who has cold sores (oral herpes). It can be dangerous for a newborn baby. Your GP will be able to treat the infection if it occurs (or is diagnosed) during early pregnancy, but if the pregnancy is close to term a caesarean section may be advised to reduce the risk of passing herpes to the baby.

If you or your partner have herpes, use condoms and avoid oral sex and let your GP know.

Toxoplasmosis

This can be caught from cat faeces and can be very dangerous for an unborn baby with infection in early pregnancy increasing the risk of miscarriage and stillbirth. Most women will have had the infection (with mild symptoms) at some time in their life and will therefore be immune. Treatment can reduce the risk of the baby being infected. Reduce the risk by avoid emptying cat litter trays while pregnant and wearing gloves for gardening.

Debra Aspinall is an experienced journalist, editor and leading writer for the Emma's Diary website, one of the UK's foremost baby and [http://www.emmasdiary.co.uk]pregnancy website. Debra writes on pregnancy, preconceptions & baby care like symptoms, [http://www.emmasdiary.co.uk/pregnancy-and-birth/pregnancy/pregnancy-health/pregnancy-complications]pregnancy complications & baby health. She also writes on women's health and beauty issues and contributes travel articles to glossy magazines in London and the Home Counties.

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