Conditions and Illnesses which could affect your unborn baby
Your health is vital to the well being of your unborn baby. Therefore it is wise that one be aware of the illnesses which can affect your baby, should you become ill during the nine months.
Asthma:
Most asthma sufferers sail through their pregnancies without any added risks or problems. However, there are the few whose asthma attacks become more severe during pregnancy. This condition should always be mentioned as early as possible in your antenatal visits, so that a safe, yet effective medication can be prescribed. Many women have found added relief through increasing their fluid intake - this shouldn't be too much of an extra hassle, as we are all supposed to increase our intake of fluids during pregnancy.Diarrhoea:
Diarrhoea during pregnancy usually raises concern, especially when you are still suffering after a period of 24 hours, or it keeps returning at regular intervals. In this case it is suggested that you contact your healthcare provider, who can prescribe the correct medication for someone in your condition - Never take medication for diarrhoea without having discussed it with your doctor first!Of particular concern in this case, is the risk of dehydration. Increase your fluid intake over this period: water, fruit juices, broth and other clear liquids are best (prune juice and apple juice have laxative qualities, so try an avoid these), milk and milk products should also be avoided as these often worsen the problem. Solid foods, not only seem unappealing at this stage, they also tend to make the problem worse - stick to a bland, nutritious, liquid diet for a few days, or just until you feel better.
Group-B Streptococcus Infection (GBS)
This illness does not affect the fetus whilst still in the womb, instead it is passed on during birth - often resulting in detrimental damages. Pneumonia, lung damage, meningitis and cerebral palsy are just a few of the life-threatening conditions that the baby is exposed to at the time of birth.Being present in the urinary, reproductive organs,or mouth, GBS is easily transmitted through sexual contact - a silent condition, often producing no symptoms.
Hepatitis
One of the most serious infections that can occur during pregnancy, is that of hepatitis - a viral infection (or inflammation) of the liver. Hepatitis is transmitted through sexual contact or by infected blood through the use or sharing of contaminated hypodermic syringes and needles. Most patients experience flu-like symptoms, accompanied by nausea, pain in the area of the liver and loss of appetite. The person's urine may be darker in colour, and her skin and the membranes lining the body cavities become yellow or jaundiced. Transmission to the baby, is usually during birth or through breastfeeding.During your antenatal visits you will probably be tested for hepatitis antibodies - if you test positive whilst pregnant, the baby may be required to receive immune globulin following the birth. This vaccination is somewhat different from the hepatitis vaccine, which is given as a preventative measure against the disease.
Lyme Disease
Lyme disease is a disorder that is transmitted to humans via infected ticks. It is a disease appearing in stages: Initially there may only be a skin lesion at the site of the bite, followed by a bout of flu-like symptoms. A couple of weeks later the patient will show signs of neurological problems and the possible onset of arthritis. During pregnancy, this disease will cross the placenta, presenting a host of complications: early/pre-term labour, unusual skin rash in the newborn, or even death in-utero. Fortunately though, most of the medications used to treat lyme disease can be used safely during pregnancy.Prevention is really better than cure in this case, so try and remain away from long grass, and keep your pets tick and flea-free.
Rubella (German Measles)
Rubella is a fairly common childhood complaint, an infection causing few problems in the non-pregnant person. During pregnancy though, one has to be very careful (especially in the first trimester) when the risk of miscarriage is high. It can have disastrous effects on the development of the baby's vital organs - malformations are common, particularly heart defects. Fortunately many women are immune to the disease, whether through having suffered with it in the past, or by having received the vaccine - beware though, neither is a guaranteed protection for life!Sickle-cell Anaemia:
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Toxoplasmosis:
A disease caused by toxoplasma gondii, toxoplasmosis often goes unnoticed in a healthy adult, who may only experience mild flu-like symptoms. In the pregnant mother though, this disease can cross the placenta, placing the unborn baby at great risk of mental retardation, hearing loss and the possibility of experiencing learning disabilities.Toxoplasmosis is most commonly contracted through cat faeces, however it is just as easily spread through the eating of under cooked meat, infected eggs, infected goats milk and even through the day-to-day petting of your beloved cat. To prevent this awful contamination, it is vital that we follow a few simple guidelines:
- Request that another family member take on the role of emptying the cat litter tray - or if you have no choice, make sure you wear gloves throughout the entire procedure, and wash your hands thoroughly afterwards.
- Wash all vegetables thoroughly, especially if they are home grown - a neatly dug vegetable patch is the ideal spot for "kitty" to perform ablutions.
- Avoid eating undercooked or raw meat.
- Keep cats off counters, tables and other areas where contamination is a possibility.
- Stroking your pet is fine, as long as you wash your hands afterwards.
