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13 Surprising Infections During Pregnancy That can Bother you The most!

Maternal Health

It is said, bad things can make or break, but pregnancy is the particular thing who can present you the both. It just does that.

If I say it clearly, pregnancy is the most precious time in the life, yet can constantly break you until the baby is born or perhaps after that as well.

So, such in instance is the infections during pregnancy. In spite of the fact that, they are obvious to be experienced, they can make you enjoy the heck hell.

So, all in all, what are these infections though? Moreover, what causes infections during pregnancy and much more importantly how to avoid infection during pregnancy?

You must have grid your loins to face the ultimate naked truths of them.

Hence avoiding the coon’s age, let’s get right into this article.

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WHY ARE INFECTIONS COMMON IN PREGNANCY

As anyone can obviously guess, pregnancy brings lots of changes in a woman. These changes are hormonal, physical, emotional and physiological and all together at a single stroke.

As about the infections, mainly hormonal and the rapid physical changes are to be blamed for making them true. These changes make you more prone to experience from common to complicated ones.

HOW HOMAONAL CHAGES FLARE UP INFECTIOS IN PREGNANCY?

As about pregnancy infection and hormones, a particular hormone named as progesterone should be criticized the most.

In your gestation, progesterone relaxes the muscles located in your pelvic region. It relaxes the utterer and bladder muscles.

This in further, can cause your urine to stay longer in the bladder, increasing the risks of getting vaginal infection.

Moreover, the rapid hormonal imbalance can alter the vagina’s natural pH, making it a suitable place for the microorganisms to grow and cause adverse infection.

PRESSURE ON YOUR BLADDR

Bladder is the organ who gradually gets suppressed throughout your maternal period because of your growing uterus.

Again bladder is the organ, which holds your pee and lies just below your womb (Where the baby grows).  

As your baby grows in the gestational weeks, it slowly puts a brilliant pressure on it. Consequently, when you pee a little amount of your urine doesn’t get eliminated.

This surplus waste of your body is more likely to produce bacteria, which in later causes infections while pregnant.

INFECTIONS LIST DURING PREGNANCY

As I stated before, pregnant ladies are more likely to develop infections in comparison to others. Over and above that, some infections are common to experience while as others can be fatal.

So avoiding any further linger these are the 13 infections during pregnancy that a pregnant women may have to deal with.

  • Urinary Tract Infection
  • Influenza or Flu
  • Bacterial Vaginiosis (BV)
  • Yeast Infection
  • Uterine Infection
  • Group B streptococcus (GBS)
  • Malaria
  • Chicken pox
  • CMV
  • Hepatitis
  • Sexually transmitted Disease
  • Toxoplasmosis
  • Zika Virus

Alright then! Let’s talk over the infections one-at-a-time with their corresponding causes, symptoms, effects and possible ways to prevent.

So, the first to top the list is

1.URINARY TRACT INFECTION

Urinary tract infection is the infection that takes place in the renal system. Most of the times, it occurs in bladder or urethra and more severely in the kidneys.

As it was still unknown, it is very familiar among the pregnant ones. In-between 2-10% of expecting women surely experience UTI in their maternal period.

The bacterium named Escherichia Colie or E.coli is accountable for it.

But why it is so common anyways?

WHAT CAUSES UTI IN PREGNANCY

Well, a UTI in pregnancy may occur for number reasons and they are as follows-

  • Vast Hormonal Changes
  • Increases Sugar level in body
  • Sex While Pregnant
  • Poor Hygiene
  • Group B streptococcus

This reason may flare off the growth of the E.coli in your urinary tract, which can lead to urinary tract infection.

UTI SYMPTOMS

UTI gives very unpleasant experiences which are not bearable at all!

A numerous amount of expecting women reports this symptoms while going through a UTI in prenatal period-

  • A burning sensation while urinating
  • A foul smelling, cloudy urine is evident
  • Vaginal Irritation and itching
  • Incomplete experience of bladder emptying
  • Pain in bladder, groin or abdomen
  • Frequent urination
  • Cramping and fatigue

These are the some of the symptoms of an active UTI.

EFFECTS OF UTI

I stated UTI is common in pregnancy. I admit that. But, it doesn’t mean to turn a deaf ear to it.

An untreated UTI or UTI not treated completely is considered to be harmful to both the mother and developing baby.

  • An untreated UTI causes,
  • Low birth weight baby
  • Premature birth
  • Kidney Infection

So, you have to make sure that you’ve treating it completely. And hey, sometimes you won’t have to treat because you can prevent it too.

There are lots of ways to actually prevent a UTI during pregnancy and here is some of its example.

HOW TO PREVENT UTI NATURALLY
  • Drink plenty liquids or water
  • Have unsweetened cranberry juice
  • Nix underwear at night
  • Use cotton, breathable underwear
  • Avoid using feminine products in your genital area
  • Empty your bladder after sex
  • Reduce the consumption of artificial sweeteners
  • Maintain hygiene after bowel movement

These are the natural ways that you can apply to prevent UTI in your gestational period.

2.INFLUENZA OR FLU

Influenza is referred as a highly contagious viral; infections of the respiratory passages. Furthermore, it is responsible for causing fever, aching and catarrh.

Guess what now; it is also as common infection around the pregnant ladies more as the people of reproductive age that aren’t pregnant.

WHAT CAUSES INFLUENZA IN PREGNANCY

Not much but, the behavioral changes in heart, immune system including lungs as well in the neo-natal periods become the risk factor for influenza in pregnancy.

SYMPTOMS OF INFLUENZA OR FLU

In normal, influenza or the flu are symptomatic and include these uncomfortable symptoms in a very time

  • Runny nose and sneezing
  • Chest pain and heat congestion
  • Symptoms like headache, nausea, shortage of breath are seen
  • Coughing can be dry or with phlegm
  • Chills, dehydrated, body aches can also be experienced
  • Loss of appetite and flushing
  • Pain in muscles
EFFECTS OF FLU ON PREGNANCY

Of course flu is enormously ordinary yet can be fatal too, if not treated. It can be dangerous to both the mother for pregnancy the newborn.

In short and sharp influenza in pregnancy welcomes these sincere effects

  • Pneumonia and other complication to mother
  • Risk for Fetal growth
  • Miscarriage
  • Preterm delivery
  • Still birth

This is why, how silly or ordinary a problem may seem it needs due attention. (Mostly in pregnancy)

Okay, let it be how it is, let’s get forward to know how you can prevent influenza or flu during your maternity.

HOW TO PREVENT THE FLU NATURALLY?

These are the do’s you have to undertake in order to prevent the flu naturally while expecting.

  • Keep yourself away from the people who are sick
  • Stay home when you catch influenza
  • Wash your hands regularly
  • Remind yourself to cover your mouth and nose in outside.
  • Don’t touch your eyes, nose and mouth in any event.
  • Prioritize your health first
  • Reduce your stress as it hampers it.

On the whole, you can act these health habits in contemplation of avoiding flu during pregnancy.

3.BACTERIAL VAGINOSIS (BV)

Bacterial vaginosis comes as the 3rd most common infection while pregnant in this list. BV simply means a certain type of vaginal infection, caused by the extreme growth of bacterium in the urinary tract.

Bacterium named Gardnerlla Vaginalis is the top most culprit behind this infection. Typically, 10-30% of going to be mothers faces it in their pregnancy.

BACTRIAL VAGINOSIS CAUSES

As far as studies described, bacterial vaginitis (BV) during pregnancy may occour for these corresponding reasons-

  • Hormonal changes
  • Unprotected sexual intercourse
  • Multiple sex partners
  • Regular douches
  • Use of feminine product in genital area
  • Lastly smoking

 So leaving the causes behind, it’s time to bat over the symptoms of BV.

SIGNS OF BV IN PREGNANCY

These are the symptoms of BV during pregnancy that you may have to cope with in your gestational period.

  • Virginal burning
  • Painful urination
  • Vaginal itching
  • Abnormal vaginal discharge with strong odor
EFFECTS OF BV WHILE PREGNANT

It doesn’t matter if BV is ordinary or not, since it can bring bundles of complication in pregnancy such as

The increased risk of premature baby

Low birth weight

HOW TO GET RID OF BV DURING PREGNANCY?

Getting rid of it BV is way easier that you may assume.

Mysteries aside, here are some tips you can act to get rid of BV during pregnancy.

  • Approach sex occasionally
  • Neglect multiple sex partners
  • Don’t douche at all
  • To maintain hygiene
  • Don’t use feminine products in your private part

These are the tactics to act, to shun out this infection in your antenatal period.

4.YEAST INFECTION DURING PREGNANCY

Yeast infection is another infection that occurs in expectant women. The term yeast infection simply means the overgrowth of a yeast like fungus called candida albicans in the urinary tract.

A study, moreover, indicates that 20% of non-pregnant women comprise candida yeast in their vaginal tract but the number spikes up to 30% while expecting.

WHAT CAUSES YEAST INFECTION DURING PREGNANCY

A pregnant woman is more likely to seize yeast infection during her pregnancy as a consequence of these following risk factors.

  • Poor hygiene
  • Gestational diabetes
  • Weekend immune system
  • Moist vaginal environment
  • Intake of needless antibiotics
  • Unprotected sexual intercourse

These above-mentioned reasons flare up the possibilities of yeast infection among expecting ones.

SYMPTOMS OF YEAST INFECTION

Typically, a yeasty infection includes these uncomfortable symptoms.

  • Swelling and reading of vulva
  • Persistent itching f genital area
  • Burning sensation while urinating or having sex
  • Vaginal pain
  • Abnormal vaginal discharge that resembles like white cottage cheese
EFFECTS OF YEAST INFECTION DURING PREGNANCY

In comparison to others, a yeast infection concludes with a lesser number of complicated issues in both the mother and the developing baby.

However, if you go into labor while infected with this infection, you are more likely to pass it to your baby. This in further, can infect the baby as well.

And the baby may develop a yeast infection in its oral region or diaper area. That’s the demerit of yeast infection in pregnancy.

It’s no wonder that a yeast infection can put no harm to you but the symptoms of it can be annoying to tolerate. Thus, demands attention too.

WAYS TO PREVENT YEAST INFECTION

You can perform some easy tips in order to stay steer clear of recurrent yeast infection during pregnancy.

These east preventions include

  • Switch on breathable cotton underwear
  • Maintain hygiene
  • Don’t use feminine products in the genital area
  • Avoid staying long with swimming suits or wet cloths
  • Check your sugar levels regularly
  • Do not douche
  • Have safe sex

These helpful and practical tips will ensure your resistance against yeast infection while gestating.

5.GROUP B STREPTOCOCCUS (GBS)

Group B strep (streptococcus) is an infection caused by group B strep. This infection should not be referred to as common since it could be vicious for pregnancy as well as to newborns.

The bacterium of this GBS is often carried in the human body, causing no such harm. This bacterium is mostly located in the intestines and lower genital tract.

However, GBS infected pregnant women are more likely to pass this infection to their infants. This infection can possibly cause infection of the urinary tract, placenta, womb even the amniotic fluid.

GBS INFECTION IN PREGNANCY CAUSES

There are no such particular causes of GBS infection in human beings, and they are not discovered.

In general terms, the group B strep bacteria come and go naturally in human bodies. They are even pretty harmless to the mother and still can cause serious impacts on the baby.

GBS IN PREGNANCY SYMPTOMS

Pregnant women can face these following symptoms if they get infected with group B Strep infection.

  • Bluish Skin
  • Difficulty In Breathing
  • Fever and Vomiting
  • Stiffness
  • Abnormal Blood Pressure level
  • Heart Rate Abnormalities
  • Poor Feeding

The above-mentioned factors are the common symptoms of GBS infection while gestating.

EFFECTS OF GROUP STREPS DURING PREGNANCY

Oftentimes, pregnant women face a little to no effects while facing this infection. But they can certainly pass it to their babies during childbirth.

Group B streps can affect the babies a lot as it answers with major health defects. Although in rare occasion GBS diseases can lead to life threatening outcomes like

  • Sepsis
  • Pneumonia
  • Meningitis
  • Fever
  • Feeding Problems
  • Irritability
  • Breathing Problems
  • Troubles in keeping right body temperature

Even in rare but group B streps diseases in newborns carry a greater tendency to crop up these major aversions in them.

HOW TO PREVENT GBS DISEASES IN PREGNANCY

A plenty of women who carry Group b streps bacterium in them when they have healthy babies. But there is a tiny risk that they may deliver it to their babies which can be dangerous for the baby.

Then how to prevent it?

Well, there are no such ways to prevent it. After all, they are present in your body naturally. But expectant women go through vital tests to know whether they have developed this bacterium, especially in between 36-37th weeks of gestation.

Since these weeks are prior to childbirth, women who develop it are more likely to pass it to the newborns during the course of delivery.

So, for the prevention you may go through these following procedures.

  • Get tested for GBS bacteria.
  • Women at increased risk are given antibiotics during labor in order to avoid the possibility of GBS in the newborn.
  • In almost all cases the antibiotics are offered through the vein.

6.CHICKEN POX DURING PREGNANCY

Chicken pox or varicella is a highly contagious viral infection that leads to itchy, blister-like rashes on the skin of an infected person.

Women who get infected with chickenpox during pregnancy are vulnerable to complications such as: pneumonia- an illness of the lungs that leads to severe breathing difficulties.

And they are even probable to go through birth defects or stillbirth depending on the time of exposure and some certain factors.

SYMPTOMS OF CHICKENPOX WHILE PREGNANT

Common symptoms of chickenpox while pregnant include

  • Headaches
  • Drowsiness
  • Vomiting and feeling sick
  • Skin rashes that bleed
  • Severe rashes on skin
  • Vaginal bleeding
  • Chest pain and breathing difficulties
WHAT CAUSES CHICKEN POX

Chicken pox is caused by the virus named as varicella zoster viruses. Typically, it does spread by the flowing causes.

Getting into contact with an infected person’s blister, saliva or mucus directly

By inhaling the droplets of coughs or sneezes of a chicken pox infected person

EFFECTS OF CHICKENPOX DURING PREGNANCY

Running into chickenpox in pregnancy can bring dangerous consequences. Only 12 in 200 pregnant women may get this infection while restating that in further results with harmful results.

And unfortunately, there are no medical elements that can prevent the baby getting the infection in the uterus if the mother gets infected.

Since the baby’s immune system is weak to this very point, the fetus will not be able to fight off the infection. Thus, will face serious damages.

Well, even though not miscarriage, but chicken pox during pregnancy can lead to stillbirth and other birth defects depending on the timing of exposure and other factors.

Referring to particular timing, women getting infected by chicken pox between the 18th to 20th weeks of pregnancy are more certain to pass on this congenital infection to the baby.

HOW TO PREVENT CHICKEN POX?

The only way to prevent chicken pox while expecting is by getting the vaccine. All groups of people should get vaccinated twice by chicken pox vaccine only if they have never got vaccinated before.

Chicken pox vaccine is safe and effective.

So, can pregnant women get vaccinated by chicken pox vaccine?

According to various clinical studies, expectant women should not get the chickenpox vaccine during pregnancy or in the 30 days prior to being pregnant. No matter if she was vaccinated before.

She can only get vaccinated if has been exposed to chickenpox and is prescribed by a doctor to do so.

7.CMV INFECTION IN PREGNANCY

CMV or cytomegalovirus infection is a common infection. This infection is a different one because in some cases it may bring notable symptoms, while in some it may conclude not even a single symptom.

It can only be passed when it’s active since the virus requires a living cell to multiply in.

Moreover, CMVC infection is harmful for pregnant women. It has been linked to major complications including pregnancy loss, LBW, preterm labor and others.

CAUSES OF CMV INFECTION DURING PREGNANCY

There are a number of causes that lead the way to CMV infection during pregnancy. These causes can include

  • Handling infected children’s toys and dirty tissues
  • Unprotected sexual intercourse
  • Blood transfusion
  • Organ transplant
  • Direct contact with infected person’s body fluids such as saliva, blood, urine and tears

These above shown off beat factors are the risk factors of CMV infection during pregnancy.

SYMPTOMS OF CMV INFECTION

As you got aware before, a CMV infection can show various symptoms but, in some cases, it does not represent any signs at all.

However, when symptomatic, it may deliver these notable signs.

  • Sore throat
  • Night sweats
  • Swollen glands
  • Fever
  • Weight loss
  • Tiredness
  • Pain in joints and muscles
  • Fatigue
EFFECTS OF CMV INFECTION DURING PREGNANCY

Pregnant women infected by CMV carry a greater chance in infecting their babies in the womb. This type of infection is called congenital CMV.

A congenital CMV infection could be life threatening for unborn babies. It can harm the baby by causing:

  • Low birth weight
  • Preterm labor
  • Hearing loss at childbirth
  • Hearing loss later in life
  • Death of fetus
  • CMV can also harm the mother’s health by causing
  • Digestive system issues
  • Inflammation of the colon
  • Esophagitis
  • Hepatitis
  • Brain inflammation
  • Vision loss

These above-mentioned views are the thrilling effects of CMV infection both in mother and unborn child. Moreover, CMV is rare during pregnancy and occurs in about 1-4% of all pregnancies.

HOW TO PREVENT CMV WHILE PREGNANT?

Until now, no licensed vaccine has been considered as effective against CMV infection. Thus, you have to prevent it by any means whatsoever.

These below tips are highly suggested in order to stay steer clear of CMV while pregnant.

  • Avoid sharing food and drinking out of the same utensils with others
  • Practice safe sex
  • Stay alert with disposal materials or item
  • Clean baby toys and countertops more often
  • Shun kissing a child with tears and saliva
  • Avoid touching your mouth, nose and eyes
  • Wash hands oftentimes

Hepatitis is an infection caused by hepatitis virus. Women having hepatitis while gestating can pass this infection to the newborns at birth.

8.HEPATITIS INFCETION IN PREGNANCY

But fortunately, hepatitis won’t cause any harm to the unborn baby if it is treated at the early stage. Getting the vaccine or immune globulin after coming into contact with this virus dramatically reduces the risk of pregnancy complications.

CAUSES OF HEPATITIS DURING PREGNANCY

Oftentimes, hepatitis crops up through the contact of infected blood in the body. And occurs by the establishment of direct contact with an infected person as well.

Thus, causes such as the following ones vastly boost the possibilities of hepatitis during pregnancy.

  • Having unprotected sex form an infected person
  • Sharing infected needles or other items
  • Getting tattoo or body piercing by contaminated needle
  • From mother to fetus
  • Certain medical conditions such as chronic liver disease, cirrhosis and liver cancer
  • Heavy alcohol consumption
  • Certain drugs for example: nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, drugs that lower cholesterol etc.

These above factors are severely blamed for causing hepatitis during pregnancy.

SYMPTOMS OF HEPATITIS INFECTION

In very rare cases, hepatitis has shown to show no symptoms. But when symptomatic, it can include a notable number of signs. Such as:

  • Yellowing of skin and eye (jaundice)
  • Abdominal pain
  • Nausea and fatigue
  • Fever
  • Loss of appetite
  • Abnormal stool
  • Massive weight loss
  • Dark urine
  • Flu-like symptoms

There are various types of hepatitis. For example, hepatitis A, B, C and more. So, not all patients experiencing hepatitis show particular symptoms as stated earlier. The signs can differ.

Hepatis is a massive subject to debate on, ergo I suggest you read this article that delivers a greater clarity over this infection.

EFFECTS OF HEPATITIS DURING PREGNANCY

Hepatitis can both be acute or chronic. As about acute hepatitis, it can occur suddenly and last for a shorter period. Besides, they can be treated easily without causing any bad impacts on pregnancy.

But chronic hepatitis could be a matter of concern. It develops gradually and can last for a lifetime.

This type of chronic hepatitis, however, is dangerous for pregnancy. It can hamper the development of the baby by causing:

  • Preterm birth
  • Gestational diabetes
  • Fetal growth restriction
  • Placental abruption

Not only this, chronic hepatitis brings fatal complications on mother’s health as well by causing

  • Severe liver disease
  • Skin problems
  • Cirrhosis
  • Blood disorders
  • Liver failure or cancer
HOW TO PREVENT HEPATITIS DURING PREGNANCY?

The above discussion concluded how dangerous hepatitis could be if not treated well. But luckily there are some measures you can perform to hamper hepatitis during pregnancy. Such as:

  • Go for safe sex by using condoms
  • Get vaccinated
  • Perform personal hygiene
  • Don’t use infected person’s personal items
  • Avoid sharing needles
  • Be cautious when traveling to areas that hold poor sanitation
  • Take precautions when getting tattoos
  • Drink bottled water
  • Pay attention to your nutrition intakes

These prevention works magic when it comes to lowering the risks of hepatitis during pregnancy.

9.SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED INFECTIONS

Pregnant women can be infected by sexually transmitted infections as well. Typically, STIs are common in expectant women as common as among non-pregnant women since pregnancy does not provide any kind of protection against STDs.

Most of the sexually transmitted infections are silent or conclude no symptoms. Thus, you may not know that you have caught an STI. But more importantly, STIs are complicated factors that can be fatal for both the mother and baby.

There are several types of organisms who can cause various types of STIs. For example:

  • STIs including gonorrhea, syphilis and chlamydia are caused by bacteria.
  • Trichomoniasis is caused by parasites.
  • And STIs comprising HPV, genital herpes and HIV as caused by viruses.

WHAT ARE THE RISK FACTORS OF STI DURING PREGNANCY?

Usually, STIs are acquired by sexual contact. Being exposed to an infected person’s blood, semen, vaginal discharge or other body fluids causes STIS. It gets easily spread by digital, vaginal, oral or anal sex procedures.

Other than that, these following factors extensively boost the risk of STIs during pregnancy.

  • Having sex with an infected person
  • Conducting unprotected sex
  • Multiple sex partners
  • Getting forced to engage in sexual activity
  • Injecting drugs
  • Being too young
  • Alcohol abuse
  • A family history of STIs
  • Injecting contaminated needles
SYMPTOMS OF STIs DURING PREGNANCY

All pregnant women are offered blood tests to check if they have got STIs or not. However, if not get tested, you may face these bothersome symptoms if you get infected with STIs.

  • Abnormal vaginal bleeding
  • Sores, bumps or blister on vagina, anus or mouth
  • Burning or painful sensation while urinating
  • Painful sensation during bowel movements
  • Pain in deep inside while sexual intercourse
  • Pain and aches around pelvis
  • Vaginal discharge with strong odor
  • Burning and itching in vagina
  • Frequent urination
  • Foul smelling urine
  • Dark and cloudy pee
EFFECTS OF STIs ON PREGNANCY

STIs are treatable. Most of the sexually transmitted infections are curable by the use of antibiotics, even in pregnancy.

However, if left untreated, they can bring adverse outcomes because they can pass from mother to baby via placenta, causing serious damages.These damages on baby include:

  • Blindness
  • Deafness
  • Bone deformities
  • Premature rupture of membranes
  • Eye and lung infections
  • Pneumonia
  • Blood infection 
  • Brain damage

Untreated sexually transmitted infections can even so damaging that they cause

  • Miscarriage
  • Stillbirth
  • Preterm labor
  • Low birth weight of baby

STIs are responsible for causing these abnormalities of a newborn. Not only this. Untreated STIs can affect the mother as well by causing

  • Inability to get pregnant again
  • Ectopic pregnancy
  • Cervical cancer
  • Pelvic inflammatory diseases

HOW TO PREVENT STIS WHILE PREGNANT?

The best part about STIs is you can easily prevent their sick outcomes. There are some easy measures you can perform in order to lower the possibilities of STIs during pregnancy. These tips include:

  • Have safe sex by using condoms
  • Tell your partner to use condom properly
  • Avoid multiple sex partners
  • Built sexual relationship with one person
  • Use clean needles while injecting into the body
  • Stay with an uninfected partner
  • Abstain from sex to lessen the risk

These preventive measures dramatically reduce the possibilities of STIS while gestating or at any phase of life.

10.TOXOPLASMOSIS IN PREGNANCY

Toxoplasmosis is a dangerous infection caused by a single celled parasite named toxoplasma gondii. Although this infection does not pass from person-to-person, an infected mother can pass it to her baby through placenta.

The risk of transmission of this parasite from mother to baby ranges in between 15 to 20% in the first trimester which is relatively low.

But the risk of transmission may develop up to 60% by the third trimester, if the mother gets infected.

TOXOPLASMOSIS IN PREGNANCY: CAUSES

Toxoplasmosis is a type of foodborne illness or food poisoning that occurs for a very common parasite.

It can take place for the direct contact with cat feces, having contaminated food and for mother-to-baby transferal.

Other than that, some risk factors can give rise to toxoplasmosis during pregnancy. These risk factors certainly hold:

  • Eating contaminated raw or undercooked meat
  • Having foods with contaminated utensils
  • Eating unwashed fruits and vegetables
  • Through consumption of unpasteurized dairy products or milk
  • Direct contact with cat feces
  • Drinking water that’s contaminated with toxoplasmosis gondii

These are the top-notch factors that provoke the chances of getting toxoplasmosis during pregnancy.

TOXOPLASMOSIS SYMPTOMS IN PREGNANCY

Typically, the symptoms of toxoplasmosis appear after 5-23 days of getting infected. And most of the time, it shows no symptoms at all. But when symptomatic it can offer some bothersome signs including:

  • Muscle aches and pains
  • Feeling unwell
  • Headaches
  • Fatigue
  • Fever
  • Swollen lymph, glands around the neck
  • Inflammation of lungs and heart muscles
  • Inflammation of eye

Asides from the mother, a newborn is more probable to face terrible sighs when infected with toxoplasmosis. Such as

  • Enlarged liver or spleen
  • Yellowing of skin and eyes (jaundice)
  • Severe eye infections
  • Seizures

These are the unfamiliar symptoms of toxoplasmosis on newborns.

SIDE EFFECTS OF TOXOPLASMOSIS DURING PREGNANCY

Toxoplasmosis is a common infection that usually is harmless. If you’ve got toxoplasmosis before then the effects of it massively decrease during pregnancy.

However, in cases like having a weakened immune system, getting it for the first time in gestational period or leaving it untreated can lead to serious problems.

An untreated toxoplasmosis in pregnancy can certainly cause

  • Preterm labor
  • Miscarriage
  • Stillbirth
  • Major birth defects of baby
  • Premature baby

But that’s not all. Because the babies infected with toxoplasmosis carry a greater possibility to face serious damages later in their life.

And these damages mostly include

  • Eye infections
  • Damage in the nervous system
  • Problem with skin and ear
  • Blindness

A v infection treated at the early stage causes no damage to both the mother and baby. Moreover, keeping the immunity in check can itself stop the spread of toxoplasma parasites.

TOXOPLASMOSIS TREATMENT

The treatment of toxoplasmosis during pregnancy is typically done by an antibiotic medicine called spiramycin. This medicine gets collected in the placenta and fills the site through which the parasite travels to the fetus.

It is known as the best treatment of toxoplasmosis in pregnancy.

HOW TO PREVENT TOXOPLASMOSIS IN PREGNANCY?

Shutting the exposure to this pregnancy infection does protect you and your child from mishaps. Preventing toxoplasmosis in pregnancy is quite simple since it included measures like

  • Wearing gloves when gardening or handling soil
  • Avoiding raw or undercooked meat
  • Avoid having unpasteurized dairy products
  • Keeping the utensils clean
  • Not changing the cat litter box
  • Avoiding stray cats
  • Feeding the cats dry food instead of raw meat

These are the measures you should implement in order to shun the chances of toxoplasmosis in pregnancy.

11.ZIKA VIRUS INFECTION DURING PREGNANCY

Lastly yet importantly, zika virus infection during pregnancy. It is another vicious pregnancy infection that causes serious damages during pregnancy and in the later life of the baby.

This infection is caused by the bites of infected Aedes mosquitoes.

CAUSES OF ZIKA VIRUS DURING PREGNANCY

Zika virus can cause life threatening problems in newborns. And the causes behind zika virus during pregnancy are:

  • Through animal bites or stings especially from zika virus infected mosquito
  • By having vaginal sex, oral or anal sex with an infected person
  • Blood transfusion

These above 3 factors are the leading factors behind Zika virus in pregnant women.

ZIKA VIRUS SYMPTOMS IN PREGNANCY

Women having zika may or may not have any type of symptoms. It’s both symptomatic and asymptomatic.

When symptomatic it shows some visible symptoms including

  • Mild fever
  • Rashes
  • Muscle and joint pain
  • Malaise or headache
  • Pink eyes or conjunctivitis

However, the symptoms of Zika virus are typically mild to experience.

EFFECTS OF ZIKA VIRUS IN PREGNANCY

The diagnosis of zika virus during pregnancy could be a matter of great concern as it causes fatal outcomes.

It can cause microcephaly and other congenital abnormalities of the developing baby. It also increases the risks of unfriendly outcomes including:

  • Stillbirth
  • Preterm birth
  • Fetal loss
  • Brain problems

Not to mention congenital abnormalities, the zika virus is responsible for causing congenital zika syndrome.  It is a severe syndrome in which the baby’s skull becomes partially collapsed.

This in further cases decreased brain tissue with a specific pattern of brain damage.

However, zika virus is rare and there is a rapid decline of zika virus infection in pregnancy.

It is possible because of protective antibiotics, positive changes to mosquito bites and some helpful prevention methods.

As about prevention, you can perform some of the prevention practices in order to repel the chances of getting it.

HOW TO PREVENT ZIKA VIRUS DURING PREGNANCY?

Referring to preventions, you can perform these practices for the sake of achieving decreased risk of zika virus infection during pregnancy.

These practices include:

  • Preventing mosquito bites
  • Use condoms while having oral, vaginal and anal sex
  • If possible, avoid sex during pregnancy

Ask your healthcare provider or midwife to guide you to take preventive measure against bites

So, these are the infections during pregnancy that are threatful to come across. Anyhow, most of them are treatable and of course preventable if you give due attention to them.

Remember, at this very point of your life, you must think about yourself first. Since you’re expecting, it’s no wonder that you’re living two lives at the same time. Thus, care for yourself no matter what.

SOME FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What infections are dangerous during pregnancy?

There are a number of infections that are dangerous during pregnancy if not treated well or in the early period of diagnosing. These infections include:
Sexually transmitted infections
Group B strep
Toxoplasmosis
Zika virus
Hepatitis
Bacterial vaginosis

How do you know if you’ve a bacterial infection while pregnant?

Most of the bacterial infection while pregnant include symptoms like
Vaginal Itching
Abnormal Discharge
Burning Itching sensation
Pain While Having sex and urinate

Can pregnant women treat infection while pregnant?

Since most of the infections during pregnancy are treatable, a pregnant woman can treat infections while pregnant.
But they shouldn’t take any kind of over-the-counter-medications without consulting the doctor.

IN CLOSING

All is said and all is done, so all in all this article ends here. I really appreciate that you’re still tuning in and willing to learn more. But unfortunately, it ends at this very point.

But I hope that you came to know a lot about common infections during pregnancy and some uncommon ones as well with their corresponding causes, symptoms, effects and most importantly preventions.

I’d love it if you comment down if it’s a good read or not.

It will help pregarlybody to deliver you the best.

So, all at the end pregarlybody wishes you a safe, sound, healthy and blissful pregnancy ahead!!

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Patricia Pifer

Patricia Pifer is the main author of pregarlybody.com website. She’s an avid health and fitness enthusiast and loves sharing her passion for juicing with others.

https://pregancyinfo.com