A Complete Guide To Prevent Infections During Pregnancy

Catching infections during pregnancy can be harmful to both the mother and her baby. Our environment has plenty of germs or microorganisms which can cause all sorts of infections. They can affect the mother and weaken her, and while there are medications available, some may tend to be harmful to the fetus. Moreover, infections can pass to the fetus and cause abnormalities including fetal demise in some cases. They can also trigger preterm labour and preterm birth or a miscarriage. One of the most common infections during pregnancy is Urinary Tract Infections. It can not only aggravate very quickly and affect the mother, but also lead to preterm labour and affect the baby.

Precautions To Take To Prevent Urinary Tract Infections

Here are some pointers to keep in mind to prevent infections:

1. Hydrate yourself well, don't withhold urine.

2. Take precautions while using public toilets. Try to not have direct contact with the toilet seat; carry soap, sanitisers, tissues, wet wipes etc. and use stand and pee devices that can help in preventing infections.

3. Early detection with routine screening and treatment with appropriate antibiotics is needed, sometimes requiring long term prophylactic antibiotics too.

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^{Stay hydrated and don't miss your routine check-ups}

General Measures To Take To Prevent Infections

Certain precautions taken before and during pregnancy can prevent infections and protect the mother and her baby. Below are a few of the general measures to be considered:

1. Avoid visiting and being in close contact with people who are sick.

2. Avoid raw and undercooked food, more so while eating outside.

3. Avoid eating in places with doubtful hygiene, especially street food.

4. Avoid unpasteurised milk and dairy products like soft cheese.

5. Protect yourself from mosquito bites. Keep yourself covered or use mosquito repellants especially in areas with Dengue, Malaria, Zika virus etc.

6. Stay away from wild or pet rodents and their droppings. These can lead to diseases like Listeria which can affect the baby.

7. Do not touch or change dirty cat litter, this can cause Toxoplasmosis which can cause abnormalities in the baby

8. Care should be taken while handling babies and small children as infections like CMV pass through excreta of children.

9. Eat healthy, sleep well and maintain good immunity. Prevention and treatment of anaemia with iron rich foods and iron supplements is essential. Control of diabetes helps reduce the incidence of infections.

10. Use condoms to prevent STDs and Zika, these infections pass on to the fetus and cause growth problems and congenital abnormalities in the baby. Screening for sexually transmitted diseases is a part of routine pregnancy care. Appropriate antiviral therapy and measures can prevent mother to child transmission of HIV to the baby.

11. Screen for infections like bacterial vaginosis and GBS especially in women with previous history of preterm birth.

12. Wash your hands with soap and water after the following: using the bathroom, touching raw meat 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 diaper etc.

^{Eat healthy, sleep well and maintain good immunity}

Specific Measures: Vaccination

Vaccinations can help boost the immunity of women against these infections and protect her. Maternal antibodies transferred to the baby through the placenta (passive immunity) protect the baby against the infections, even before the baby can make his or her own antibodies.

Vaccines before pregnancy: About 2-3 months before you plan to conceive, it is advisable to opt for vaccination. Check for immunity against Rubella, Varicella etc. Vaccinate with MMR, Varilrix (chicken pox) and Hepatitis B vaccines as needed. More vaccinations may be needed in specific situations like travel and immunocompromised states.

Vaccines during pregnancy: Live vaccines are contraindicated. However, accidental vaccination with pregnancy does not warrant termination for the fear of abnormalities of the fetus. Flu shot during flu season must be given. High risk mothers like nurses, health care workers and those immunocompromised must be vaccinated at the earliest. TT (second trimester) and Tdap (Boostrix) between 27-36 weeks. More vaccines may be needed in specific situations.

About the author: Dr. Padmalatha V V is Consultant Obstetrics and Gynaecologist at SPARSH Hospital, Bangalore.

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