February is International Prenatal Infection Prevention Month
Prenatal infections are infectious diseases that can be passed from a mother to her baby. These can happen either during pregnancy or delivery, and these infections are usually bacterial or viral.
The presence of prenatal infections in a mother can adversely affect the health of both mother and baby. It may lead to preterm birth, low birth weight, and even death of either mother or baby. This is why it is crucial for mothers to be aware of how they can prevent these infections from taking place during their pregnancy.
This is why International Prenatal Infection Prevention Month was launched to raise awareness on preventing the transmission of infectious diseases during pregnancy and delivery. This observance is very important to ensure the long-term health of a community. In 2016 alone, it was estimated that 2.6 million infants died within the first month of life, and approximately 700,000 infants die each year due to infectious diseases.
Why this Observance is Important
The International Prenatal Infection Prevention Month saves millions of lives every year, worldwide by ensuring that mothers can raise a generation of healthy children. It is also an indicator of the communities well-being – healthy mothers mean that the health infrastructure is accessible, efficient, and affordable.
Despite the significant progress made through efforts like the US Maternal and Child Health Bureau (MCHB), prenatal infection still remains one of our most pressing challenges, and a threat to many countries worldwide. Due to the serious consequences for mother and baby, prenatal infection prevention is a critical component of the broader maternal and child health strategy to ensure that mothers and babies “survive and thrive.”
Tips for Preventing Infections Before and After Pregnancy
Some infections before and during pregnancy can hurt you and your developing fetus. They can cause serious illness, birth defects, and lifelong disabilities, such as hearing loss or learning problems. Here are 10 tips from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to help prevent infections before and during pregnancy.
Protect yourself from the Zika virus.
Zika virus can be passed from a pregnant woman to her fetus during pregnancy or to her baby around the time of birth. Zika virus infection during pregnancy can cause microcephaly (a birth defect where a baby’s head and brain are smaller than babies of the same age and sex) and other severe brain defects.
If you are pregnant, do not travel to areas with Zika. If you must travel to an area with Zika, talk to your doctor, or other healthcare providers first and strictly follow steps to prevent mosquito bites during the trip. If you have a partner who lives in or has traveled to an area with Zika, use condoms from start to finish every time you have sex (vaginal, anal, or oral) to protect against infection or do not have sex during the pregnancy.
If you are trying to become pregnant, talk with your healthcare provider before traveling to areas with Zika and strictly follow steps to prevent mosquito bites during the trip. See CDC’s advice for men and women who are thinking about pregnancy.
Wash your hands.
Wash your hands with soap and water after the following:
- Using the bathroom
- Touching raw meat, raw eggs, or unwashed vegetables
- Preparing food and eating
- Gardening or touching dirt or soil
- Handling pets
- Being around people who are sick
- Getting saliva (spit) on your hands
- Caring for and playing with children
- Changing diapers
Reduce contact with saliva and urine from babies and young children.
A common virus called cytomegalovirus (CMV) can cause problems for some babies, including microcephaly and hearing loss. A woman infected with CMV can pass the virus to her developing baby during pregnancy. Women may reduce their risk of getting CMV by reducing contact with saliva and urine from babies and young children. Some ways to do this are by not sharing food and utensils with babies and young children and washing hands after changing diapers. These actions can’t eliminate your risk of getting CMV but may lessen your chances of getting it.
Avoid unpasteurized (raw) milk and foods made from it.
Do not eat soft cheeses, such as feta, brie, and queso fresco, unless they have labels that say they are pasteurized. Unpasteurized products can contain harmful bacteria.
Do not touch or change dirty cat litter.
Have someone else do it. If you must change the cat litter yourself, be sure to wear gloves and wash your hands afterwards. Dirty cat litter might contain a harmful parasite.
Stay away from wild or pet rodents and their droppings.
Have a pest control professional get rid of pests in or around your home. If you have a pet rodent, like a hamster or guinea pig, have someone else care for it until after your baby arrives. Some rodents might carry a harmful virus.
Get tested for sexually transmitted diseases.
Some people that have HIV, hepatitis B, or an STD do not feel sick. Knowing if you have one of these diseases is important. If you do, talk to your healthcare provider about reducing the chance that your baby will become sick.
Talk to your provider about vaccinations.
Some vaccinations are recommended before you become pregnant, during pregnancy, or right after delivery. Having the right vaccinations at the right time can help keep you healthy and help keep your baby from getting very sick or having life-long health problems.
Avoid people who have an infection.
If you have not yet had or did not have the vaccine before pregnancy, stay away from people who you know have infections, such as chickenpox or rubella.
Ask your doctor about group B strep.
About 1 in 4 women carry this type of bacteria but do not feel sick. An easy swab test near the end of pregnancy will show if you have this type of bacteria. If you have group B strep, talk to your healthcare provider about how to protect your baby during labor.
These tips can help prevent infections that could harm you and your developing baby. You will not always know if you have an infection, and sometimes you will not feel sick. If you think you might have an infection or think you are at risk, see your healthcare provider. Be sure to talk with your healthcare provider to learn more about safe food preparation, wearing insect repellent when outside, taking medicine, and other important topics.
Observing International Prenatal Infection Prevention Month
If you or someone you know is pregnant or a new mother, urge them to get screened for infections and vaccinated on time. This could help save a life. Tell pregnant mothers simple practices like good hygiene, prenatal care, and immunizations. Good nutrition can also help avoid dangerous infections.
Post about International Prenatal Infection Prevention Month on your social media accounts so more people can be informed and inform those around them. Take the time out this month to bring awareness to the cause.
Sources:
https://www.who.int/en/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/children-reducing-mortality
https://www.cdc.gov/vitalsigns/maternal-deaths/index.html
https://mchb.hrsa.gov/sites/default/files/mchb/about-us/home-visiting-infographic.pdf