Intrauterine infections in pregnancy and their effects on the fetus

Even the most unsafe diseases of a pregnant woman can harm a developing baby in the womb. Bacteria and viruses, which the immune system of an adult person can resist, can become an unbearable burden for a baby whose body is just starting to form.

Infections during pregnancy can cause congenital ugliness or death of the fetus. Sometimes these causal relationships are fairly pronounced and can not cause any doubt. But most often it is impossible to say with complete certainty that it was the infections that were transferred during pregnancy that were the unfavorable factor that caused damage to the fetus (invisible or visible).

The presence of infection during pregnancy can provoke fetal death and spontaneous miscarriage at any time. This can happen either because of the increased tone of the uterus with inflammation in the female genital organs, or because of intrauterine infection of the fetus. Intrauterine infections can be manifested by damage to tissues and various organs of the fetus. The baby can develop serious diseases such as hepatitis, gastroenteritis, meningoencephalitis, pyoderma, etc., in the womb of the mother. Moreover, the severity of his disease will be more pronounced than in the adult. There is a high probability that due to the penetration of microorganisms into the blood of the child, his body will be totally affected.

The most serious problems arise in those cases when the infections are combined. Even a combination of two infections increases their mutual negative influence, and also lowers immunity, accordingly the effectiveness of treatment decreases. Specialists also note the fact that during pregnancy, the immune system is depressed, this is necessary for bearing the fetus. That is why hidden infections during pregnancy are activated, and those diseases that have developed slowly and asymptomatically for months, and sometimes even years, are beginning to progress.

Most often, a sign of any infection is inflammation of the cervix and vagina, which the doctor must find at the first examination, when the pregnant woman is only registered. If, at this stage, no infection is detected, then in the future they can spread to the uterus, the placenta and fetus, and then the fetus becomes infected.

If the pregnant woman has strong immunity, infections can continue to be localized in the vagina and cervix, and not affect the development and condition of the fetus. But, unfortunately, there is still the possibility of infection of the child when passing through the natural birth canal.

The severity of the fetal disease and, in general, the outcome of pregnancy depends on the time at which the infection was detected. According to statistics, the earlier infection spreads on the fetus (up to 12 weeks), the greater the probability of early miscarriage and fetal death.

In order to prevent intrauterine infection of the fetus, a pregnant woman is prescribed, most often an antibacterial agent, but as is known the choice of drugs is very limited. That's why infections cause a lot of trouble.

In addition to the basic treatment of the disease, women in the "position" are preventive of placental insufficiency, because a healthy placenta is an excellent obstacle for infections. To prevent infection of the fetus, preparations are prescribed to reduce the tone of the uterus, improving blood circulation and nutrient supply to the baby.

To avoid serious problems for women, it is recommended to take tests on time for infection during pregnancy, but better during the planning period.