HealthPartners - Your guide to pregnancy

Some diseases and infections can cause serious problems for an unborn baby. That’s why you need to know what they are and if you are at risk for getting them. If you think you might have a certain disease or infection, contact your health care provider immediately. The following common diseases and infections could be harmful to both you and your unborn baby.

DISEASE AND INFECTION

COVID-19 is spread when an infected person coughs, sneezes, speaks, sings, or breathes, releasing droplets or very small particles containing the live virus into the air or onto surfaces. If you inhale these droplets or particles or if they land in your eyes, nose, or mouth, you may become infected. Touching a contaminated surface and then touching your eyes, nose, or mouth can also cause you to become ill. What to know • If you are pregnant or have recently been pregnant you may be at a higher risk for severe illness than others who become infected. • During pregnancy and for at least 6 weeks after having a baby, any underlying medical conditions or your age may also magnify your risk of developing severe COVID-19 illness requiring hospitalization or even death. • Contracting COVID-19 during pregnancy may increase the risk of preterm birth (delivering the baby earlier than 37 weeks) or other poor pregnancy outcomes.

CHICKENPOX (VARICELLA) Chickenpox is caused by a virus. Most people contract chickenpox as a child or were vaccinated for it. If you’ve had it, it is extremely rare to get it again. Your body has antibodies to help protect you and your baby. Having chickenpox as an adult or while you’re pregnant can be more severe. Chickenpox-related pneumonia can be very severe and even life threatening. Catching chickenpox during the first 7 months of pregnancy carries a small risk of causing birth defects. If the infection happens close to the time of birth, it can be fatal to a baby. If you haven’t had chickenpox or the vaccine, avoid contact with anyone who has it. If you think you’ve been exposed, a blood test can check to see if you have immunity. Treatment with an injection of a specific immunoglobulin can help prevent a serious infection in the baby. If your blood test results show that you have never had this infection, your health care provider will recommend you get immunized after your pregnancy. COVID-19 Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is an infectious disease caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus. Catching this virus can put your health at serious risk, especially when you’re pregnant or going through the postpartum period.

Protecting yourself from COVID-19 The CDC recommends that “people who are pregnant, breastfeeding, trying to get pregnant now, or might become pregnant in the future” receive the COVID-19 vaccine. Studies of the safety and effectiveness of the COVID-19 vaccine continue to suggest that the benefits of getting vaccinated outweigh any known or potential risks of vaccination during pregnancy.

38 Your Guide to A Healthy Pregnancy