Preventing Prenatal Infections

While pregnancy is filled with joy, excitement and anticipation, there’s always a good dose of worry and stress that goes along with it. You know that you are the only defense your unborn baby has, and you recognize that prenatal infection can pose serious risks and complications to your developing child. Taking measures to prevent infection is an important part of pregnancy, but you also should work closely with your OB/GYN.

It is recommended by the CDC that pregnant women take extra measures in order to prevent infection while they are carrying their child. These are some of the tips offered by the center:

• Wash hands thoroughly.
• Avoid others who are battling an infection.
• Cook meat thoroughly and use extra caution when preparing meals using raw meat.
• Get tested for STDs and also avoid having unprotected sex with multiple partners.

While many infections are mild and most adults are able to fight off infection without serious risks and complications, these same infections can have serious risks and side effects for an unborn child. If you feel that you have contracted an infection while pregnant, you should contact your OB/GYN immediately.

 

Signs and Symptoms of Infection

Each individual type of infection will present its own set of symptoms, but there are some symptoms that typically point to some type of infection. If you are experiencing any of these signs or symptoms, you should contact your doctor as soon as possible in order to identify the infection and discuss the right treatment options for you and your unborn child.

• • Fever: In many cases, the body will develop a fever as a natural way to fight-off infection. An unexplained fever while pregnant is not normal, and should be reported to your doctor.
  • Flu-like symptoms: Many common and rare infections have mild, flu-like symptoms. Body aches, chills, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea all can be a sign of infection. In particular, the Zika Virus has mild, flu-like symptoms. This virus, which is transmitted primarily by mosquitoes, can cause birth defects and is now being linked to miscarriages. The CDC recommends that pregnant women avoid traveling to places where the Zika Virus is prevalent, including Brazil and Mexico. Parents Magazine also notes that Toxoplasmosis is another infection that can pose serious health risks to an unborn baby that has mild, flu-like symptoms. According to the magazine, between 400 and 4,000 babies in the United States are born infected with this virus, which can cause jaundice, pneumonia and other health complications. If left untreated, it can be fatal to newborn babies.

 

Importance of Regular Prenatal Care

Doctors and nurses who specialize in prenatal care can not only help you prevent infection but also can treat your infections efficiently and effectively in order to minimize the risk to your unborn baby. There are many benefits to routine prenatal care, including:

• • Regular monitoring of your baby’s health and development. An OB/GYN will use regular office visits as well as genetic testing and ultrasound devices in order to monitor the pregnancy.
  • Advice about preventative health measures, such as vaccines. Your doctor may recommend certain vaccinations during pregnancy in order to protect the health of your baby. At Revere Health, we recommend the flu vaccine to our patients in order to protect them flu virus.
  • Treatment for any infections that you may develop while pregnant. Your doctor will provide you with the most accurate and reliable information on treatment for infections during pregnancy.

 

If you have recently found out that you are pregnant, you should begin care with a qualified OB/GYN group immediately. Contact us at Revere Health today in order to set up a consultation appointment with you. We look forward to guiding you through your pregnancy, as your health and the health of your unborn child are our top priorities.