The single most important thing anyone can do to avoid getting sick is to wash their hands thoroughly and often. But while handwashing is a critical step for pregnant women to protect their health and that of their unborn child, it’s not the only step they can take to minimize the risk of infection and illness. Awareness of diseases, how they are spread and the symptoms and dangers they cause, can help in the effort to avoid exposure and lessen their impact.
The great news for women who are pregnant or plan to be pregnant is that information is readily available about diseases that not long ago would cause serious illness, birth defects, and lifelong disabilities in babies exposed in the womb or during birth. Today, doctors can help with prevention and treatment.
Zika Virus
This disease is usually contracted through mosquito bites, but pregnant women also are at risk of catching it from an infected partner. Zika virus is passed to babies during pregnancy and can cause brain defects, including microcephaly, in which the baby’s head and brain are smaller than normal.
Prevention – Avoid traveling to places known for Zika infection and use condoms or avoid sex during pregnancy if your partner has traveled to one of these locations.
Cytomegalovirus (CMV)
CMV can manifest as a new virus, a reinfection from a different strain, or a flare-up of the virus lying dormant in someone who was previously infected. It is spread to others through saliva, urine, tears, and other body fluids, including breast milk. During pregnancy, the virus may be spread through the placenta, with one in three infected mothers passing it to their unborn babies.
Unfortunately, most women who pass CMV to their babies don’t know they are infected. Of babies born with congenital CMV, one in five will experience health issues, with the most common being hearing loss.
Prevention – Avoid contact with bodily fluids whenever possible and wash hands thoroughly after diaper changes or contact with another’s saliva or tears.
Group B Strep
At least 25% of women carry the Group B Strep bacteria and never experience any symptoms, but babies born to infected women have a 1% to 2% chance of contracting the infection during childbirth. The percentage is small, but babies who are infected can become seriously ill with pneumonia, sepsis, and meningitis. Others have long term health issues including hearing and vision loss.
Prevention – Doctors routinely test pregnant women for Group B Strep (usually between the 36th and 38th week) to ensure treatment is administered during labor and delivery to protect the baby. Ask your doctor about testing near the end of pregnancy and treatment if you test positive.
Animal Awareness
Certain parasites and viruses carried by cats and rodents can present dangers for pregnant women. Consider the following precautions:
- If you have pet cats, avoid cleaning the litter box or wear gloves and wash hands thoroughly if you must handle the litter. Cat litter can contain the parasite toxoplasma and an infection can be passed to the baby even if you become infected just before becoming pregnant. A toxoplasma infection typically has no symptoms and babies who contract the infection often do not develop symptoms until later in life, such as eye damage, blindness, and mental disabilities.
- Rodents can carry lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus, which has been linked to pregnancy-related infections associated with congenital hydrocephalus, chorioretinitis, and mental retardation. This risk includes mice or rats in or around the home as well as pet rodents, such as hamsters and guinea pigs. Ensure your home is free of mice and rats and let a family member care for any pet rodents to avoid possible infection.
Many infections may result from bacteria in animal waste, whether pets or wild critters digging in flower or vegetable gardens. Washing hands frequently, especially after gardening, handling unwashed vegetables or raw meat, and touching pets, is the best way to stay ahead of these potential problems.
Vaccinations
Vaccinations are available for certain diseases and may be administered before or during pregnancy or right after delivery, such as the flu, COVID, Tdap, and RSV vaccines. Your doctor can advise you on recommended vaccinations, as well as dangers related to exposure to certain diseases, including chicken pox and rubella.
If you have questions about prenatal infections and the risks for you and your unborn child, contact Stark Women’s center for a consultation.