Infections That May Affect Your Baby

There are certain infections which a pregnant woman may already have when she conceives, or may catch during pregnancy, which can affect her unborn baby. Here are some:

Rubella

Rubella (German measles) caught in the first four months of pregnancy can seriously affect an unborn baby's sight and hearing. In severe cases it can cause brain and heart abnormalities.

In the UK all children are vaccinated against rubella at 13 months old and again before starting school.

Your GP can check your immunity.

Sexually transmitted infections

You can have an STI and show no symptoms, but an STI can affect an unborn and newborn baby's health. If you have any doubts, about you or your partner, arrange for a confidential check-up with your GP or at a sexual health clinic.

HIV and AIDS

All pregnant women are offered an HIV test during antenatal check-ups. An HIV-positive woman in good health and without symptoms can have a normal pregnancy and it is possible to reduce the risk of transmitting HIV to a baby during pregnancy and after birth. However HIV-positive mothers can pass on the virus through breast milk.

Hepatitis B and C

Hepatitis B and hepatitis C are viruses infecting the liver.

Some people with hepatitis B have no symptoms, but they can be carriers and pass the infection by having unprotected sex or through their infected blood. Mothers can pass the infection on to their baby at birth.

A blood test to check for hepatitis B is offered to all pregnant women during antenatal care.

Babies who are considered at risk are given the hepatitis B vaccine at birth to prevent infection or liver disease in later life.

Although the associated risks are lower with hepatitis C a pregnant woman can pass it to her baby who will need specialist assessment and treatment if infected.

Herpes

Genital herpes can be caught through genital contact with an infected person or from oral sex with someone who has cold sores (oral herpes) and it can be very dangerous for an unborn baby.

If infection occurs in pregnancy, treatment is available. If it is only diagnosed during labour, a caesarean section may be carried out to avoid passing the infection to the baby during delivery.

Chickenpox

If you are pregnant, are not sure if you've had chickenpox and have come into contact with an infected child or adult tell your GP immediately. Chickenpox in pregnancy can be dangerous for both mother and baby.

Toxoplasmosis

Toxoplasmosis can be caught through contact with cat faeces and it can damage an unborn baby. Most of us catch it at some time and are then immune.

Group B streptococcus

This bacteria, carried by a third of the population, rarely causes symptoms. In women it's found in the intestine and vagina and in a small number of pregnancies it infects the baby, usually just before or during labour, leading to serious illness. Antibiotics can protect the baby from being infected.

Debra Aspinall is an experienced journalist and the editor and leading writer for the Emma's Diary website, one of the UKs foremost pregnancy and baby websites. Debra writes on pregnancy related topics such as baby and pregnancy , baby infections, pregnancy complications and etc. She also writes on women's health and beauty issues and contributes travel articles to glossy magazines in London and the Home Counties.