Mild diseases with a urinary tract infection or a cold can be harmless to the future mother, but according to a report by the Valencian Institute of Infertility (IVI) can cause serious damage to the baby, especially during the first 20 weeks of gestation.
The importance of protecting oneself from illnesses during pregnancy is stressed and to see a doctor before any symptoms, however slight it may seem. Germs that cause a mild infection in the mother can pass to the fetus through the placenta and put its development at risk.
Urinary infection, for example, is the most frequent infection during pregnancy because changes that occur in the anatomy of women favor the proliferation of germs. In principle, it is not serious if it is detected in time, so urine tests are done every trimester, but it is related to an increased risk of premature delivery. Although there may be infection without noticing symptoms, of appearing, the woman's belly urgently needs to go to the bathroom, pain or burning when urinating or a pressure in the lower area of the belly.
A cold doesn't seem like it either a priori, to be harmful to the baby, however some viral diseases that compromise the fetus manifest with that symptom and if fever appears in the mother for more than a day, it can also be dangerous for the fetus.
Rubella and chickenpox are words that cause fear in pregnancy so it is recommended to get vaccinated preventively against these two diseases (if you have not been vaccinated before) when planning to find a pregnancy, as well as against the flu.
Rubella can cause the baby to suffer cataracts, heart disease, hearing problems, mental retardation or movement disorders, while chickenpox is related to risk of abortion, skin lesions, cataracts or problems in the retina.
Prevention is always better than cure, especially when the unborn baby's health may be impaired. To avoid infections, it is advisable to wash your hands frequently, wash food thoroughly and avoid contact with infected people or animals.
