10 MOST COMMON INFECTIONS DURING PREGNANCY

Catching infections while you are pregnant can be somewhat alarming as your baby can be exposed to risks and vulnerabilities. During pregnancy your immunity system is weaker than usual which makes you more susceptible for contracting infections, plus the body does not produce enough antibodies to fight the infection. Having said that, we must stress that all infections or health issues during pregnancy are not always serious such as if you are having common cold, morning sickness, fatigue and tiredness etc.


Unfortunately pregnancy increases our chances for catching particularly different types of bacterial infections. Below is the list of most common infections which many women suffer from during pregnancy –
Bladder infection: It is the most common bacterial infection during pregnancy which usually occurs in most of the pregnant women. In this the bladder gets inflamed because of bacterial growth caused by blockage in urinary drainage due to the growing uterus. If you have bladder infection you may experience:
Burning sensation or pain during urination
Increase in the urinary frequency
Tenderness or pressure at the area of bladder

Oral antibiotics are generally prescribed for bladder infection in pregnancy
Kidney Infection: If bladder infection goes untreated it may lead to a kidney infection. And infection in kidney may cause premature labor and low birth weight. If the bladder infection is detected and treated in time there will be no threat to your baby. If in case you have infection in kidney then you may experience –
Fever, chills
Nausea, vomiting
Lower back pain

A kidney infection in pregnancy may end you in a hospital for some days, where you and your baby will be closely monitored
Bacterial vaginosis: Commonly known as BV, bacterial vaginosis is also one of the most common vaginal infection during pregnancy. It’s caused by decrease of lactobacilli in vagina combined with overgrowth of other bacteria inside vagina. Because it increases the risk of a premature delivery and complications (even death) in newborns, it is not to be taken lightly. The most common symptom associated with BV is unpleasant smelly vaginal discharge. The doctor will check you for vaginal discharges, and is accordingly treated

Yeast infection: During pregnancy increased level of hormones estrogen and progesterone provide a favorable environment for candida fungus for its overgrowth. The main symptoms associated with yeast infections are –
Burning and itching sensation in the vagina
Redness or swelling in vagina
Thick whitish –yellow discharge which can smell like a baking bread

It is generally treated with a cream or an ovule is inserted in the vagina. Anti fungal medicines may also be prescribed
Group B Streptococcus: It is one of the life-threatening infections in newborns which can also affect the mother. In most of the pregnant women GBS may cause bladder infection, endometritis and still birth. Most of the time it causes no symptoms in pregnant women that is why a screening test is taken when a women reaches 35-37 weeks of gestation in order to detect it. If the result is positive, pregnant women are treated at the time of labor. You are likely to have it if you have a premature labor, your waters broke early or you contracted fever in labor
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