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  • Breadcrumb

    1. Home
    2. Health and wellbeing
    3. Living well
    4. Pregnancy and trying for a baby
    5. Your health during pregnancy

    Infections during pregnancy

    During your pregnancy, you may be more at risk from certain infections, or infections which are usually harmless may be more serious. It is important you understand the risks and how to avoid them.

    Influenza

    While flu is a mild illness for most people, it can be very serious for pregnant women.

    Pregnant women are more likely to develop serious complications as a result of flu, and rarely even die.

    There are also risks to the baby, including miscarriage and premature labour.

    Receiving the flu vaccine during pregnancy is the best way to protect yourself and your baby.

    The vaccine is regularly used for pregnant women. The vaccine is extremely safe to use in pregnancy for both mother and baby.

    • Flu vaccine for adults

    Sexually transmitted infections

    As many as 70 per cent of women and 50 per cent of men who have an STI show no symptoms, so you may not know you have one.

    Many STIs, however, can affect your baby’s health during pregnancy and after the birth.

    If you have any reason to believe you have an STI, you should go for a check-up as soon as you can.

    You can ask your GP or midwife, or go to a genitourinary medicine (GUM) clinic, or if you are under 25, visit a Common Youth centre.

    Find out what's available in your Health and Social Care  (HSC) Trust area:

    • Belfast HSC Trust - sexual health and HIV services
    • Northern HSC Trust - sexual health service (GUM)
    • South Eastern HSC Trust - sexual health service
    • Southern HSC Trust - sexual health
    • Western HSC Trust - sexual and reproductive health services

    For more information on sexually transmitted infections, visit;

    • Sexual health
    • HIV and AIDS
    • Sexual Health NI
    • Common Youth

    Infections transmitted by animals

    There are a number of infections spread by animals which can be harmful to you or your baby during pregnancy. It's important that you are aware of these infections, especially if you are in contact with animals such as household pets or farm animals.

    Cats

    Cat’s faeces can contain an organism which causes toxoplasmosis.

    Avoid emptying cat litter trays while you are pregnant. If no one else can do it, use disposable rubber gloves. Trays should be cleaned daily and filled with boiling water for five minutes.

    Avoid close contact with sick cats and wear gloves when gardening, even if you don’t own a cat, in case the soil is contaminated with faeces.

    Wash your hands and gloves after gardening. If you do come into contact with cat faeces, make sure you wash your hands thoroughly.

    Sheep

    Lambs and sheep can be a source of an organism called Chlamydia psittaci, which is known to cause miscarriage in ewes. They also carry toxoplasma.

    Avoid lambing or milking ewes and all contact with newborn lambs. If you experience flu-like symptoms after coming into contact with sheep, tell your doctor.

    Pigs

    Research is ongoing to see if pigs can be a source of hepatitis E infection. This infection is dangerous in pregnant women, so avoid contact with pigs and pig faeces. There is no risk of hepatitis E infection from eating cooked pork products.

    Other infections

    There are a number of other infections which can affect your pregnancy, including;

    • hepatitis B
    • hepatitis C
    • chickenpox
    • group B streptococcus
    • listeriosis
    • rubella
    • slapped cheek syndrome
    • toxoplasmosis

    More useful links

    • Common complaints during pregnancy
    • Complications in pregnancy
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    Your health during pregnancy

    • Alcohol, smoking and drugs in pregnancy
    • Common complaints during pregnancy
    • Complications in pregnancy
    • Foods to avoid in pregnancy
    • Group B Streptococcus and pregnancy
    • Health during pregnancy
    • Healthy eating in pregnancy
    • Infections during pregnancy
    • Keeping active during pregnancy
    • Miscarriage, stillbirth and ectopic pregnancy
    • Rubella and HIV
    • Sex during pregnancy
    • Travelling while pregnant
    • Vaccinations in pregnancy

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