Protect Your Unborn Baby from Infections

Protect Your Unborn Baby from Infections

Protect Your Unborn Baby from Infections

USA.gov sent this bulletin at 02/19/2013 12:19 PM EST

If you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant, find out how to protect your unborn baby from infections that can cause serious health problems.

A few of the infections that affect unborn babies or newborns include:

• Group B Strep -- About 1 in 4 women carry Group B Strep. This bacteria is usually not harmful to you, but it can be passed on to your baby during childbirth and lead to a potentially deadly infection in your newborn.If you test positive for Group B Strep, you can protect your baby by getting IV antibiotics during labor.
• Cytomegalovirus (CMV) -- Some babies born with CMV infection will develop permanent health problems, such as hearing or vision loss or mental disabilities. Help protect your unborn baby by washing your hands often, avoiding contact with saliva and urine, and taking additional precautions to reduce your risk of exposure to CMV.
• Listeriosis -- Pregnant women are 13 times more likely than the general population to get listeriosis, a serious infection caused by eating food contaminated with the bacteria Listeria. Protect yourself and your unborn baby by avoiding certain foods while you're pregnant.