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Infections

Rubella 

Rubella (or German measles) can seriously affect your baby’s sight and hearing and cause brain and heart defects in your baby if you catch it in the first four months of pregnancy. All children are now immunised against rubella at 12 to 15 months and again before they start school.

 

If you’re not immune and you do come into contact with rubella, tell your doctor at once. Blood tests will show whether you have been infected, and you will then be better able to think about what action to take.

 

Sexually transmitted infections
Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are very common and often there are no symptoms, so you may not know if you have one. However, many STIs can affect your baby’s health during pregnancy and after birth. If you have any reason to believe that you or your partner could have an STI which was not diagnosed before pregnancy, you should go for a check-up as soon as you can.

 

You can ask your GP or midwife or, if you prefer, go to a hospital clinic where you will also be guaranteed strict confidentiality. You can find your nearest clinic in your phone book, listed under the name of your health authority as genito-urinary medicine (GUM) clinic, or ‘special’ clinic, or the old name of venereal disease (VD).

 

Human immuno-deficiency virus (HIV) and Acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS)
Current evidence suggests that an HIV positive mother in good health and without symptoms of the infection is unlikely to be adversely affected by pregnancy.

However, 15% of children born to HIV positive mothers are likely to be infected.

HIV positive mothers may also pass on the virus through breast milk. If you’re HIV positive, talk to your doctor about your own health and the options open to you. It is possible to reduce the risk of transmitting HIV to your baby during pregnancy and after birth.

 

If you suspect that you or your partner could be at risk of HIV, ask your doctor, midwife or health visitor, or go to a special clinic (see above) for advice before you decide whether or not to have a blood test for HIV. If you have a test, counselling should be offered afterwards to explain the result and the implications if it is either positive or negative.

 

Hepatitis B
Hepatitis B is an infection spread by contact with infected blood and body fluids, usually from sexual contact or from sharing needles. If you get hepatitis B when you are pregnant it can be passed on to the baby. Many hospitals screen for hepatitis B infection with a blood test. Babies who are at risk can be immunised at birth.

 

Herpes
Genital herpes infection can be dangerous for a newborn baby. It can be caught through genital contact with an infected person or from oral sex with someone who has oral herpes (cold sores). Initial infection causes very painful blisters, or ulcers on the genitals.

 

Less severe recurrent attacks usually occur for some years afterwards. If you, or your partner, are infected, use condoms or avoid sex during an attack. Avoid oral sex if you or your partner have cold sores or active genital herpes. Tell your doctor or midwife if either you or your partner have recurring herpes or develop the symptoms described above. If your first infection occurs in pregnancy there is a treatment available, although its use is controversial.

 

If the infection is active during labour, a Caesarean section may be recommended to reduce the risk of transmission to the baby.

 

Chicken pox
Around 95% of women are immune to chicken pox. If you have never had chicken pox, or are unsure, and come into contact with a child or adult who has it, speak to your GP, midwife or obstetrician at once.

A blood test will establish if you are immune. Chicken pox infection in pregnancy can be dangerous for both mother and baby. so seek advice early.

 

Toxoplasmosis
This infection can damage your baby if you catch it during pregnancy, so take precautions.

Most women have already had the infection before pregnancy and will be immune. If you feel you may have been at risk, discuss the matter with your GP, midwife or obstetrician. If you do catch toxoplasmosis while you are pregnant, treatment is available.

 

Parvovirus B19 (Slapped cheek disease)
Parvovirus B19 infection is common in children and causes a characteristic red rash on the face, so is often called ‘slapped cheek disease’

Although 60% of women are immune to this infection, since parvovirus is highly infectious and can be harmful to the baby, any pregnant woman who comes into contact with someone who is infected should seek advice from the doctor. Immunity can be checked with a blood test. In most pregnant women who are infected with parvovirus the baby is not affected.

 

Information provided by Health Promotion England.