Pregnancy can make women more susceptible to a variety of infections, which can pose a risk to either the mother, the baby, or both. Being pregnant heightens the severity of certain infections, often making them more severe and causing serious illness in the pregnant mother. Unfortunately, many of the medications used to treat infections pose a serious risk to the baby, causing terrible side effects.
Immunity
Changes in a woman’s hormone levels and immune system function can make the body vulnerable to infections and complications. The changes the body undergoes are meant to protect the baby from its natural defenses, preventing the immune system from attacking it. However, these changes also make a pregnant mother prone to infections that might not have otherwise caused any illness.
Risks for the Mother and Baby
Not all infections have the same impact on a pregnancy. Some may have more of an adverse effect on the mother than on the baby, while others pose a greater risk to the baby. Infections that primarily pose a problem for the mother include:
- Urinary tract infections
- Vaginitis
For the baby, other infections can have serious consequences. These infections include:
- Cytomegalovirus
- Toxoplasmosis
- Parvovirus
These can all be transmitted to the baby from the mother. Currently, effective treatment does not exist for cytomegalovirus. This virus causes a wide range of symptoms, including loss of appetite, malnourishment, and a further weakened immune system. There are also no antibiotics for parvovirus, though it can be treated with intrauterine blood transfusions.
Other harmful infections for both mother and baby include:
- Syphilis
- Listeriosis
- Hepatitis
- HIV
- Group B Streptococcus
Group B Streptococcus is one of the most commonly transmitted infections between mother and child. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), about 1 in 4 women carry it. In pregnant women, it can cause stillbirth, or cause potentially life-threatening infections in newborns. It may even lead to birth defects, including vision loss, learning disabilities, loss of hearing, and chronic mental impairment.
National Birth Injury Attorneys
If your doctor failed to diagnose an infection, leading to severe pregnancy complications, the St. Louis attorneys at The Simon Law Firm, P.C. can fight to secure compensation on your behalf.
Learn more about how our skilled legal team can help you. Call us today at (314) 241-2929 for a free consultation.
