If you’re pregnant and have been diagnosed with a sexually transmitted disease (STD), it’s normal to feel concerned about whether it could affect your baby.
Understanding how STDs are transmitted and learning about treatment options can help you protect both your health and your child’s well-being. Here’s what you need to know:
Yes, STDs Pass from Mother to Child
It’s essential to know that some STDs can be passed from mother to child during pregnancy, childbirth, or breastfeeding. The type of transmission and its impact vary depending on the specific infection.
Common STDs that can potentially be transmitted include chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis, herpes, hepatitis B, and HIV. These infections can affect your baby differently depending on the timing and type of infection.
For example:
- Chlamydia and Gonorrhea: These can cause eye infections or pneumonia in newborns if transmitted during birth.
- Syphilis: If untreated, syphilis can lead to miscarriage, stillbirth, or severe health problems in newborns.
- Herpes: A mother with genital herpes can pass the virus to her baby during delivery, which can lead to severe infection in the newborn.
- HIV: Without treatment, HIV can be passed to the baby during pregnancy, childbirth, or breastfeeding.
How to Protect Your Child
The good news is that treatment and proactive care can significantly reduce the risk of transmission. If you’re pregnant and have an STD, working closely with your healthcare provider is essential.
They may recommend one or more of the following steps:
- Testing and Early Detection: Routine prenatal screenings for STDs help detect any infections early in pregnancy, allowing for timely treatment.
- Medication: Many STDs, like chlamydia, gonorrhea, and syphilis, can be treated with antibiotics that are safe during pregnancy. Antiviral medications for herpes or HIV can also lower the risk of transmission to your baby.
- Delivery Planning: For certain infections, like active genital herpes, your provider may recommend a cesarean delivery to prevent transmission during birth.
Take Charge of Your Health
If you’re pregnant, it’s critical to get tested for STDs right away. At Alabama Pregnancy Test Center, we offer free and confidential STD testing and treatment, because we care about your health.
Contact us today to schedule your STD testing appointment today. You’re not alone in this. We’re here for you.