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National Institutes of Health
Infections and Pregnancy
If you are pregnant, an infection can be more than just a problem for you. Some infections can be dangerous to your baby. You can help yourself avoid infections:
- Don't eat raw or undercooked meat
- Don't share food or drinks with other people
- Wash your hands frequently
- Don't empty cat litter. Cats can transmit toxoplasmosis.
You may need to take medicines or get a vaccine to prevent an infection in your baby. For example, you may need to take antibiotics if you develop an infection with group B strep, or take medicines if you have genital herpes. Only some medicines and vaccines are safe during pregnancy. Ask your health care provider about how best to protect you and your baby.
The top row in the table of contents box contains the following groups:
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Learn More
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Multimedia & Cool Tools
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The bottom row in the table of contents box contains the following groups:
Research
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Reference Shelf
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For You
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Overviews
- Protect Your Unborn Baby or Newborn from Infections(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
- Also available in Spanish
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Latest News
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Flu in Pregnancy May Quadruple Child's Risk for Bipolar Disorder(05/13/2013, National Institute of Mental Health)
- Texting Fails to Boost Flu Shots in Pregnant Women(03/28/2013, Reuters Health)
- Rubella in Pregnancy Rare in U.S., But Can Be Devastating for Baby(03/28/2013, HealthDay)
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Prevention/Screening
- Group B Strep Infection: Prevention in Newborns(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
- Prevent Infections in Pregnancy(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
- Protect Your Baby and Yourself from Listeriosis(Department of Agriculture, Food Safety and Inspection Service)
- Also available in Spanish
- TORCH Test(American Association for Clinical Chemistry)
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Nutrition
- Checklist of Foods to Avoid during Pregnancy(Department of Health and Human Services)
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Specific Conditions
- Bacterial Vaginosis(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
- Also available in Spanish
- Chickenpox and Pregnancy(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
- Also available in Spanish
- Cytomegalovirus: Protect Your Baby(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
- Also available in Spanish
- E. Coli and Pregnancy(Organization of Teratology Information Specialists) - PDF
- Group B Streptococcus and Pregnancy(American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists) - PDF
- Hepatitis A and the Vaccine during Pregnancy(Organization of Teratology Information Specialists) - PDF
- Also available in Spanish
- Hepatitis B Virus in Pregnancy(American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists) - PDF
- HPV Vaccine and Pregnancy(Organization of Teratology Information Specialists) - PDF
- Also available in Spanish
- Listeriosis (Listeria) and Pregnancy(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
- Lymphocytic Choriomeningitis Virus (LCMV) and Pregnancy(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
- Measles, Mumps, Rubella and the MMR Vaccine during Pregnancy(Organization of Teratology Information Specialists) - PDF
- Also available in Spanish
- Meningococcal Disease (Bacterial Meningitis) Vaccine and Pregnancy(Organization of Teratology Information Specialists) - PDF
- Pregnancy and Fifth Disease(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
- Pregnancy Complications: Genital Herpes(March of Dimes Birth Defects Foundation)
- Also available in Spanish
- Pregnancy Complications: Gonorrhea(March of Dimes Birth Defects Foundation)
- Also available in Spanish
- Pregnant Women and Influenza (Flu)(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
- Smallpox Vaccination Information for Women Who Are Pregnant or Breastfeeding(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
- Staphylococcus aureus and Pregnancy(Organization of Teratology Information Specialists) - PDF
- Also available in Spanish
- Toxoplasmosis and Pregnant Women(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
- Vibrio and Pregnancy(Organization of Teratology Information Specialists) - PDF
- Also available in Spanish
- West Nile Virus Infection and Pregnancy(Organization of Teratology Information Specialists) - PDF
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Related Issues
- Immunization and Pregnancy(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) - PDF
- Pets and Other Animals during Pregnancy(March of Dimes Birth Defects Foundation)
- Pregnant Travelers(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
- Seasonal Flu Vaccine Safety and Pregnant Women(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
- Vaccinations and Pregnancy(March of Dimes Birth Defects Foundation)
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Clinical Trials
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ClinicalTrials.gov: Infections and Pregnancy(National Institutes of Health)
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ClinicalTrials.gov: Infections and Pregnancy
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Research
- Influenza Vaccine to Protect Mothers and Their Babies(American College of Physicians) - PDF
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Journal Articles
References and abstracts from MEDLINE/PubMed (National Library of Medicine)
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Directories
- ACOG's Physician Directory(American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists)
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Organizations
- March of Dimes Birth Defects Foundation
- Also available in Spanish
- MotherToBaby(Organization of Teratology Information Specialists)
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National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases
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Teenagers
- I'm Pregnant. Should I Get a Flu Shot?(Nemours Foundation)
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Patient Handouts
- Bacterial Vaginosis(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) - PDF
- Group B streptococcal septicemia of the newborn
- Also available in Spanish
- Group B streptococcus - pregnancy
- Also available in Spanish
- Pregnancy and the flu
- Also available in Spanish
- Pregnant Women Need a Flu Shot(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) - PDF
- Protect Your Baby for Life: When a Pregnant Woman Has Hepatitis B(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) - PDF
- STDs and Pregnancy(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) - PDF
- Also available in Spanish
- Toxoplasmosis: An Important Message for Women(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) - PDF
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You may also be interested in these related encyclopedia pages:
MEDICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA
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Infections and Pregnancy - Multiple Languages
