Infections that may affect your baby



              Some infects  you may catch during pregnancy can affect your baby's health , so it's important to get yourself checked if you think you may be at risk .


Rubella :

Rubella (or German measles  can seriously affect your baby's sight and hearing , and cause brain and heart defects in your baby if you catch it in the first months of pregnancy . All children are now offered immunization against Rubella through the MMR vaccination at 13 months , and a second vaccination before they start school . If you're not immune and you come into contact with Rubella ,tell your maternity team at once . Blood tests will show whether you've been infected ,and you'll be able to decide what action to take .

Sexually transmitted infections :


Sexually transmitted infections are on the increase , and the most common is Chlamydia . STIs often have no symptoms ,so you may not know if you have one .However,many STIs can affect your baby's health during pregnancy and after the birth .If you have any reason to believe that you or your partner have STI,go for check-u as soon as possible .You can ask your maternity team or ,if you prefer ,go to genito-urinary medicine (GUM) clinic or sexual health clinic .You will be guaranteed confidentiality .

To find a local sexual health and genito-urinary medicine (GUM° clinic call the sexual health helpline .If you're under 25 years old , you can also visit a brook center for free ,confidential advice ,or you can contact the National Chlamydia screening programe for a free confidential test .




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