Sexually transmitted infections, being pregnant, and breastfeeding
Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are also known as sexually transmitted diseases or STDs. STIs include chlamydia, gonorrhea, trichomoniasis, genital herpes, genital warts, HIV, and syphilis. A few STIs can skip from mother to baby throughout pregnancy and through breastfeeding.
How do STIs affect pregnant women?
STIs can cause the same fitness problems in pregnant girls as in ladies who are not pregnant. But having an STI can also hurt the unborn child’s health.
Having a Sexually transmitted infection in the course of pregnancy can purpose:
Premature hard work (hard work before 37 weeks of being pregnant). Early (preterm) delivery is the primary reason for toddler death and can lead to long-term developmental and health problems in kids.1
Contamination inside the uterus (womb) after start
Can I pass an STI to my toddler?
Yes. A few STIs can be passed from a pregnant lady to the baby before and all through the toddler’s delivery.
Some STIs, such as syphilis, pass the placenta and infect the infant inside the womb.
Other STIs, like gonorrhea, chlamydia, hepatitis B, and genital herpes, can skip from the mother to the infant because the infant passes through the start canal.
HIV can cross the placenta at some point in pregnancy and infect the child in the course of delivery.
What are the dangerous effects of passing an STI to a toddler?
The damaging outcomes to toddlers can also encompass:
- Low birth weight (much less than 5 kilos)
- Eye contamination
- Pneumonia
- Infection within the child’s blood
- Brain damage
- Loss of coordination in frame movements
- Blindness
- Deafness
- Acute hepatitis
- Meningitis
- Persistent liver ailment that can cause scarring of the liver (cirrhosis)
- Stillbirth
I am pregnant. What am I able to do to prevent problems from Sexually transmitted infections?
You could save several health problems due to STIs and pregnancy with regular prenatal care. Your physician will take a look at you for STIs early in your pregnancy and once more towards childbirth if needed.
STIs caused by microorganisms, which include chlamydia and gonorrhea, can be cured with antibiotics. Some antibiotics are safe to take during pregnancy. Your physician can prescribe antibiotics for chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis, and trichomoniasis at some point during pregnancy.
STIs resulting from viruses, inclusive of genital herpes and HIV, don’t have any therapy.
If you have herpes, antiviral medication may help reduce signs and symptoms. If you have signs and symptoms of herpes or active genital herpes sores at the beginning of exertions, you may need a cesarean phase (C-segment). This may help lower the chance of passing the contamination to your baby.
When you have HIV, antiviral medicines can lower the chance of giving HIV to your baby to much less than 1%. Two, you also may additionally want to have a C-section.
You can also take steps to decrease your danger of getting an STI for the duration of pregnancy.
Am I able to breastfeed if I have a Sexually transmitted infection?
Maybe. Some STIs affect breastfeeding, and some do not. The subsequent are some preferred suggestions; however, speak to your health practitioner, nurse, or lactation consultant about the risk of passing the STI on your infant even as breastfeeding:
When you have HIV, do no longer breastfeed. You may skip the virus on your baby. A breastmilk substitute like formula is usually recommended in international locations like the United States, where clean water is to be had.
If you have chlamydia, gonorrhea, or HPV, you can breastfeed your child.
If you have trichomoniasis, you can take the antibiotic metronidazole if you are breastfeeding. You may need to wait 12 to 24 hours after taking the drugs to breastfeed.
If you have syphilis or herpes, you could breastfeed so long as your baby or pumping equipment does not come into contact with a sore. It is viable to spread syphilis or herpes to any part of your breast, including your nipple and areola. When you have sores in your breast, pump or hand-express your milk until the sores heal; pumping will help preserve your milk delivery and save your breast from getting overly full and painful. You can store your milk to give to your infant in a bottle for some other feeding. However, if elements of your breast pump additionally touch the sore(s) while pumping, you must throw the milk away.
Are STI treatments secure to apply even as breastfeeding?
If you are being dealt with for an STI, ask your health practitioner about the viable outcomes of the medicine in your breastfeeding infant. Maximum remedies for STIs are safe to take even as breastfeeding.