Prevent infections during pregnancy

It is important to prevent any type of infection during pregnancy.  Pregnant women will have hormonal changes and body parts will be sensitive due to immune system function.

It creates risks for unborn child and risk for the mother.

During pregnancy immune stem changes to protect both mother and child. In pregnancy immune system should work harder to support two lives. This makes mother more susceptible for infections.

Risks for mother & baby:

In mother some of the infections can occur including urinary tract infections, vaginitis, and postpartum infection. Certain infections are highly risk for baby.

This include cytomegalovirus, toxoplasmosis and parvovirus. All these viruses can be transmitted from mother to baby and can result in serious consequences.

How to avoid and be safe from getting infected?

1. Wash your hands for 20 seconds with soap and water, follow 20 second rule.
2. Do not share forks, cups, and food with young children.
3. Avoid unpasteurized (raw) milk and foods from raw milk.
4. Do not touch or change cat litter as they carry Toxoplasma gondii parasite and can be transmitted to baby.
5. Check for Group B Streptococcus and learn how to protect baby during labor
6. Talk to your OBGYN about vaccination
7. Stay away from wild or pet rodents and their droppings as it contains viruses.
8. Talk to your doctor or nurse about vaccinations, group B strep, and sexually transmitted diseases.
9. Avoid people who have an infection, such as chickenpox or rubella.
10. Get yourself tested for sexually transmitted infections (STIs)
11. Protect and stay away from insects that known to carry diseases
12. Stay away from pet rodents, lizards, turtles and their droppings
13. Do not sit in wet bathing suit or sweaty panties. Always put on clean pair of underwear after finishing working out and swimming
14. Avoid any type of contact of blood fluid from others
15. Avoid eating raw meat
16. Wash all vegetables and fruits before consuming them

If you are pregnant and have any sort of infection, see your OBGYN immediately.

Image credit: “24 weeks” by saralunaa is licensed under CC BY 2.0 (Free for commercial use)