Germs and infections

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Watch out for germs and infections Some infections will make you very uncomfortable but not harm your unborn baby. Other infections can harm your baby.

Protection Protect yourself and your unborn baby.
• Talk to your doctor about germs and infections.
• Ask your doctor if you need shots to protect yourself from chickenpox, measles and other diseases.
• Stay away from people who have infections.
• Get a flu shot as soon as possible!
• Get a pertussis shot after you’re 20 weeks pregnant!
• Wash your hands often.
• Wash your hands after being around children.
• Don’t kiss children on the mouth.
• Carefully throw away used diapers and tissues.
• Don’t share glasses, cups, forks, other utensils or toothbrushes with children or adults.
• Wash all your food before you cook or eat it.
• Cook meat, chicken, fish and eggs until they are well-done.
• Have safe sex only. Have sex with only one person who doesn’t have other sex partners. Use a condom if you have sex with anyone who may have a sexually transmitted infection (STI), such as HIV and Hepatitis B.
• Don’t change a cat’s litter box or touch dirt that may have cat poop in it.
• Don’t work in the garden.
• Don’t get a tattoo

If you feel sick Get in touch with your doctor as soon as you feel sick. Maybe you’re infected. Maybe you’re not. If you are infected, the doctor may be able to protect you and your baby.

Infections during pregnancy If you are infected, you can pass infections to your unborn baby.

Many kinds! There are many kinds of infection. These are some of them:
• Flu, which can lead to premature labor, premature birth and serious problems for the unborn baby.
• Pertussis (whooping cough), which can lead to death if the baby catches it from you after he is born.
• Bacterial vaginosis (BV), which can lead to prematurity and low birthweight.
• Hepatitis B, which can give your baby a lifelong infection and lead to liver damage and liver cancer.
• Measles, which can lead to premature labor, prematurity, stillbirth, spontaneous abortion, and even infant death.
• Rubella, which can lead to miscarriage, and to deafness, and heart, lung and brain abnormalities.
• Sexually transmitted infections (STIs), which can lead to stillbirth, low birthweight and even infant death.

Are you on WIC? A WIC educator can talk to you about shots for your children and yourself. She or he can talk to you about visiting the doctor and any concerns you have.

Learn what WIC can do for you!