DGRefHelp - NHS Dumfries & Galloway
- Many STIs can adversely affect the fetus and be more troublesome in pregnancy.
- Refer to the West of Scotland Managed Clinical Network guidance:Pregnancy - STIs and group B (GBS) streptococcal colonisation
Infections
Warning
- See the 'Travel' section in this guidance.
- Caused by a parasite found in the faeces of infected cats and in infected meat, toxoplasmosis can cause serious problems in women who become infected while they're pregnant.
- Toxoplasmosis can cause miscarriage or stillbirth, or the infection can spread to the baby and cause serious complications (congenital toxoplasmosis).
- See 'How to avoid toxoplasmosis' and 'Foods to avoid eating during pregnancy'.
- An infection that usually develops after eating food contaminated by Listeria monocytogenes.
- In pregnancy, women are more susceptible to severe infection than non-pregnant healthy adults.
- See 'Foods to avoid eating during pregnancy'.
- Pregnancy does not increase a women’s risk of getting COVID-19.
- Pregnant women are in the moderate risk (clinically vulnerable) group as a precaution. This is based on the fact pregnancy can increase the risk from viruses like flu. It's not clear if this happens with COVID-19 but because it's a new virus, it's safer to include pregnant women in the moderate risk group.
- Although it's very rare for pregnant women to become seriously ill if they get COVID-19, it may be more likely later in pregnancy with potentially premature delivery.
- While the chances of having a stillbirth are low, there is some emerging evidence that the risk may be higher if a patient has COVID-19 at the time of birth.
- Pregnant women should follow advice to stop the spread of COVID-19 throughout pregnancy, especially in the third trimester.
- Patients from an ethnic minority group are more likely to be admitted to hospital if they get COVID-19.
- There's no evidence COVID-19 causes miscarriage or fetal abnormality.
- COVID-19 vaccination is strongly recommended in pregnancy. See the RCOG COVID-19 vaccines, pregnancy and breastfeeding FAQs