As the world is advancing, so are diseases. Everyone has to be very careful with their health. And if you’re pregnant with your child, you must be extra cautious.
Some infections could be dangerous for pregnant ladies and their babies. They may cause serious illness, congenital disabilities, and lifelong disabilities. We aren’t here to scare you but to prepare you. The stronger you’re, the stronger your baby will be.
Here’s what you can do to protect you and the baby from preventing infections before, during, and after pregnancy:
Maintain Good Hygiene
Regularly wash your hands. It’s no secret that germs are everywhere. They’re on that doorknob, switchboard, the TV remote, and all the places and things you can see around you. They’re even on your mobile devices. So we always suggest frequent handwashing to get rid of these germs.
Besides washing hands, you should also consider making your entire body and your place as clean as possible. The cleaner the things near you, the better you would stay away from infectious germs.
We can keep going with this topic, but we only suggest keeping everything near you neat and clean.
Well Cook Your Meal
Cooking or preparing your meal for pregnant women is no different. However, pregnant women must take extra care.
- Preparing your meal starts with cleaning it. Ensure the food you’re about to cook/prepare is hygienic and clean.
- Also, ensure that all the ingredients are high quality and well cleaned.
- There’s the right temperature for every type of food/meal. You may ask experts or read the details on Proper Cooking Temperatures for Safe Food At Home.
- Avoid eating leftovers unless they’re adequately heated and in good condition.
Food that can be harmful during pregnancy includes (but is not limited to):
- Unpasteurized milk
- Raw cookie dough or cake batter
- Raw or undercooked meat or fish or shellfish
- Unpasteurized juice or cider
- Cold deli meats
- Raw sprouts
- Store-made meat/seafood salads
Protection from Infectious Insects
Mosquitoes are widely known for spreading infectious diseases. They may contain infections such as the West Nile virus, Dengue virus, malaria, and Zika virus.
Follow these safety precautions to protect yourself from mosquitoes:
- Wear protective clothing and use screens or netting.
- You should also avoid going out when mosquitoes are highly active, i.e., at dawn and dusk.
- Another way of protection is using DEET-based insect repellents. Experts recommend using products containing 10 to 35 percent DEET.
Zika virus can lead to congenital disabilities. It may cause microcephaly – the baby having an abnormally small head. The UK is naturally free from this virus. Consult with the doctor before you plan to travel to affected areas, such as:
- South or Central America
- The Caribbean
- Southeast Asia
- The Pacific region – for example, Fiji
Protection from Group B Streptococcus in Pregnancy
Although this bacteria type isn’t super dangerous, it may infect the baby and lead to serious illness.
Your baby is likely to adopt this infection if:
- You go into premature labor
- Your waters break early
- You have a fever during labor
- You currently carry GBS
A regular checkup may protect you and your baby from catching GBS infections.
Get Vaccinated
Being pregnant isn’t easy. You need loads of vaccinations before, during, and after pregnancy. But how would you know when to start? You may consult a specialist right after you begin receiving pregnancy symptoms.
Experts suggest getting the right jabs of vaccinations will keep you and your baby healthy.
Read more: When Should I Start Brushing My Baby’s Teeth?
Protection from Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs)
Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) usually occur when you or your partner is committed to more than one partner. If that’s the case, you must get yourself tested. STIs can have a terrible effect on you and your baby. If tested positive, ask your doctor all about protecting yourself from it.
If you or your partner has more than one sexual partner, avoid having intercourse even with protection (condoms).
Signs of STIs may include discharge from the penis, pain when urinating, or sores on the genital skin.
Avoid Interacting with Infectious People
One of the few common examples of transmitting infections may include chickenpox. Chickenpox may cause pregnancy complications and congenital disabilities.
It would help if you also stayed away from people with rubella. It can cause severe congenital disabilities and put you at risk for miscarriage.
You may also want to have jabs of chickenpox and rubella vaccines. But avoid these vaccinations during pregnancy. If uncertain, consult a doctor.
Stay Away from Pets
If you’ve pets at home, avoid too much interacting with them. They may carry animal-borne illnesses. Cat owners are widely prone to diseases that may cause congenital disabilities. Avoid changing cat litter boxes or wearing gloves if you have cats at home. Never forget to wash your hands after handling the pet.
Stay Away from Rodents
If you have a hamster or guinea pig at home, ask someone from the family or friend to take care of the pet till your baby arrives in the world. Some rodents may carry harmful viruses like the lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV). Also, have a pest control professional eliminate pests in or around your home that the pet or rodents may carry.
Protecting from Airborne Infections
Pregnant women are more prone to diseases. Airborne infections are easily transmitted while inhaling air. There are germs everywhere. We can’t see them, but they exist around us. The best way to avoid airborne infections is to keep yourself and your surroundings neat and clean.
Read more: Checkup Checklist: 1 Month Old
Protection from Hepatitis B & C
Although Hepatitis B and C aren’t airborne, they may infect you when having intercourse with an infectious person. You may also get this infection from a contagious person’s blood. If you get this disease, you may easily transmit the same to a baby not born yet.
Consult a doctor as soon as you interact with an infectious person or thing or start seeing some negative results.
Protection from Herpes in Pregnancy
Genital herpes can give your child a severe jerk. You don’t want to hurt the baby. This disease is easily transmitted during contact with an infectious person.
Early signs of genital herpes may include painful blisters or ulcers. This disease is curable if detected during pregnancy. Near the pregnancy may lead to a cesarean section.
Protection from HIV
This disease can be transmitted to your baby if not treated on time.
A confidential HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) test is generally part of your routine antenatal care. Your doctor will offer you detailed counseling if you are found positive for HIV.
Want More Advice?
There could be many other things you need to protect from during and after pregnancy. While eating a healthy diet and keeping yourself neat and clean is one of the best ways to protect yourself from various infections and diseases, you also need extra care. One of those is meeting a specialist.
We at American Kids Care are experts in providing a good healthy life to your baby and can give you some sound advice to protect you and your baby from staying healthy and safe.
