Protect Your Unborn Baby or Newborn from Infections

 

Group B Strep

Ask your doctor or nurse for a GBS test when you are 35–37 weeks pregnant (in your 9th month). 

If you are pregnant—or know anyone who is—you need to know about group B strep, also known as GBS. About a quarter of all women carry the bacteria that cause GBS infection. GBS bacteria are usually not harmful to you and won't make the people around you sick. But GBS bacteria can be very dangerous for your newborn. Babies can get very sick and even die if their mothers pass GBS bacteria to them during childbirth. That's why it's so important for you to get tested for GBS each time you get pregnant.

If you are pregnant and have GBS, doctors can give you an antibiotic (usually penicillin) during labor that will prevent the bacteria from spreading to your baby. If you think you might have a C-section or go into labor early, talk with a healthcare provider as soon as possible.

Remember:

• Ask your healthcare provider for a GBS test when you are 35–37 weeks pregnant (9th month).
• If the test shows that you carry the bacteria, talk with a healthcare provider. Be sure to tell them if you are allergic to penicillin or other antibiotics.

More Information on Group B Strep (GBS)

• Learn more about preventing GBS.
• Learn about the ABCs of Healthy Pregnancy.  
• Get a free GBS brochure from CDC. You can call 1-800-CDC-INFO, send an e-mail request to CDC INFO, or print the brochure ("Protect Your Baby from Group B Strep!") from the CDC Web site.
  
• Send a Health-e-Card to a friend or family member:
  
  
  Have You Heard?
  

  
  In Full Bloom?

  
  Time's Running Out

Cytomegalovirus (CMV)

A woman infected with CMV can pass the virus to her unborn child. As a result, this infection can lead to birth defects or other serious problems―even death. If you're pregnant or planning a pregnancy, the best way to protect your unborn child from CMV is to protect yourself.

The risk of getting CMV through casual contact is very small. Usually the virus is passed from infected people to others through direct contact with body fluids. Practicing good hygiene can reduce your chance of CMV infection while pregnant. Remember:

• Wash your hands thoroughly (15 –20 seconds) with soap and water, especially after changing diapers or coming into contact with children's body fluids.
• Use soap and water or a disinfectant to clean hard surfaces that have come into contact with children's body fluids.
• Avoid kissing young children on the face or lips.
• Don't share food, drinks, or eating utensils with young children.
• If you work in a day care center, limit your close contact with children younger than 2 ½ years of age, especially if you've never been infected with CMV or don't know if you've been infected.

If you're pregnant or planning a pregnancy and have concerns about CMV, talk with a healthcare provider as soon as possible.

More Information on CMV

• Get disease details from CDC's CMV Web site.
• Learn more about how hand washing can help prevent CMV.
• Send an eCard to a pregnant friend or family member:
  
  
  Pregnant? Worry Less, Sleep More.
  
• Download a podcast:
  • Staying Healthy When a Baby's on the Way (0:59 minutes)
  • Staying Healthy When a Baby's on the Way (6:05 minutes)
  • Put Your Hands Together (3:48 minutes)

Listeriosis

Pregnant women are about 20 times more likely than other healthy adults to get listeriosis.

Listeriosis is a serious infection caused by eating food contaminated with Listeria bacteria. It mostly affects pregnant women, newborns, the elderly, and people with weakened immune systems. Pregnant women are about 20 times more likely than other healthy adults to get listeriosis. About one-third of listeriosis cases happen during pregnancy.

Infected pregnant women may experience a mild, flu-like illness, or worse (see What are the symptoms of listeriosis?). The disease can also be very serious for unborn babies or newborns. Listeriosis during pregnancy can lead to miscarriage, stillbirth, premature delivery, or infection in newborns.

In general, you can protect yourself from listeriosis by eating foods that are thoroughly cleaned and cooked. Pregnant women and others who are especially susceptible to the disease should take extra precautions. Click here for a more detailed list of ways pregnant women can protect themselves.

If you are pregnant and think you have listeriosis, talk to your healthcare provider immediately. If you are infected, your doctor can give you antibiotics that can protect your unborn baby or newborn.

More Information on Listeriosis

• Listeriosis FAQs from CDC
• Protecting you and your baby from listeriosis (USDA fact sheet) ― also available from the USDA in Spanish
• Information on keeping food safe