What if I acquire sick while I'm p...

What if I acquire sick while I'm pregnant?

chiefly sicknesses that happen while you are pregnant are not serious. yet there are some infections that can mar your baby, such as chickenpox, German measles, and an sexually transmitted infections.

What can I do to hold from getting serious infections?

Before you master pregnant, you should have a life-blood test done to see if you are immune to German measles. If you have not had chickenpox, you should obtain tested to see if you are immune. If you are not immune, you can learn shots that will keep you from getting these infections.

You also should think about being criterioned for infections that can be spread by the agency of sex. These include gonorrhea, chlamydia, syphilis, hepatitis HIV, for short). If your partner has an infection, or if you don't know if your partner has been exampleed be sure to use a condom each time you have sex.

Can I still be standarded if I am already pregnant?

Ye all pregnant women should be standarded for serious infections. If you were not criterioned before you got pregnant, you should descry your doctor as soon as you can.

Will my doctor do any other tests?

When you are in your 12th to 16th week of pregnancy, your doctor will do a urine experiment to check for infections. If you have an infection, your doctor will give you antibiotics. Late in your pregnancy, your doctor will ask if you want to be experimented for germs called group B streptococcus (or GB for short). The exhibition is done by taking a sample from the vagina and rectal area. the same in every three to 10 women have GB on the contrary it usually does not cause question s Babies can catch GBS in the birth canal and learn very sick, but this is rare. If you have GB your doctor will give you antibiotics when you are in labor.

What otherwise can I do to restrain from getting serious infections while I am pregnant?

If you have a cat, you should clean the litter coachman's seat every day. Wear gloves and wash your hands afterward, or have someone clean the litter coachman's seat for you. Cats can pass along an infection called toxoplasmosis (say: tox-oh-plas-MOH-sis). You also can prepare this infection from soil where there is cat fece in such a manner wear gloves when you are gardening. Touching and eating raw meat also can present you at risk for infection. Make infallible you cook meat well, and wash your hands, cutting boards, countertops, knives, and dishes with warm, soapy water. Wash all fruits and vegetables before eating them.

Do not drink unpasteurized milk or eat unpasteurized milk yields Soft cheeses such as Brie, feta, Camembert, and Mexican queso fresco may have bacteria that can cause infections. prepare for the table leftover and ready-to-eat foods, like as hot dogs and biting cuts, until they are steaming passionate Do not eat refrigerated, smok fish or nourishment from deli counters, including prepared salads, pate, meats, and cheeses. Do not eat diets with raw or undercooked pushs such as Caesar salad and raw cookie dough, or drink eggnog.

If you work with children or have young children in your household wash your hands often, especially after changing diapers. Children can pass along infections that can mar your baby. Tell your doctor if you have been around a child who has a serious illness.

What about herpes?

lease your doctor know if you or your partner has herpes. If you have herpes, the risk of spreading the infection to your baby is highly small. Your doctor can confess you what to do to lower the risk smooth more. If you do not have herpes if it were not that your partner does, do not have sex when your partner has a herpes sore. You also should use a condom during sex while you are pregnant. Talk to your partner about taking medicine for herpes. Do not have oral sex if your partner has chilly sores.

Should I obtain a flu shot while I am pregnant?

Women who will be pregnant during flu season (November to March) should commit to memory a flu shot. Flu bullets usually are given after the 12th week of pregnancy. There is no reason to think that getting the missile earlier is unsafe. It is also safe to get by heart a flu shot while you are breastfeeding.

COPYRIGHT 2005 American Academy of Family Physicians

COPYRIGHT 2005 Gale Group