Creating a healthy life for your baby starts before his or her birth. Preventing infections during pregnancy is a major step mothers need to take. Infections can cause future health problems for your baby like hearing loss and mental disability. Learn about common infections to help your baby thrive. Here are 3 infections that the CDC urges parents to be informed about:
Group B Strep – is a bacterium that is often carried by women in their birth canal and passed to their baby during birth. The bacteria aren’t usually harmful to pregnant women, but can severely hurt babies.
Cytomegalovirus (CMV) – is a virus that is passed to infants by their mothers. Pregnant women may become exposed to CMV through contact with the body fluids of a child who has CMV. CMV infection is most dangerous to the unborn baby if it occurs in the early part of the pregnancy.
Listeriosis – effects people with weak immune systems, like pregnant women, when they eat food that is contaminated by the bacteria called Listeria.
Follow doctor’s guidelines for before, during, and after pregnancy. It is always important to schedule regular visits with your doctor, especially if you are pregnant or planning for pregnancy. Dial 2-1-1 for the Help Me Grow hotline if you need assistance or 9-1-1 if you are experiencing an emergency. A trained professional will provide answers to your questions about pregnancy and connect you to trusted resources in Delaware.