Infections during pregnancy can hurt both you and your baby. Thankfully, you can improve the chances that your baby will be born healthy by taking a few extra precautions and making healthy choices. Here’s what you can do while you’re pregnant to protect yourself and your baby from infections.
Maintain good hygiene. Wash your hands often—especially when you’re around or caring for children. Regular handwashing, particularly before and after certain activities, is one of the best ways to remove germs, avoid getting sick, and prevent infections. It’s especially important to wash your hands before and/or after certain activities like after using the bathroom, before handling food, and after blowing your nose. If soap and running water are not available, you can use alcohol-based hand sanitizer gel.
Cook your meat until it’s well done. The juices should run clear and there should be no pink inside. Ground meat should be cooked to a minimum of 160°F (71° C). Cook poultry to at least 165° F (74°C). For other meat like beef and pork, cook it to a minimum of 145° F (63°C) and let it rest for several minutes after cooking. Do not eat hot dogs, luncheon meats, or deli meats unless they are reheated until steaming hot. These undercooked meats and processed meats might contain harmful bacteria called Listeria monocytogenes.
Avoid unpasteurized (raw) milk and foods made from it. Do not eat soft cheeses such as feta, brie, and queso fresco, unless they have labels that say they are made from pasteurized milk. Unpasteurized (raw) products can contain harmful bacteria.
Ask your doctor about Group B streptococcus (GBS). About 1 in 4 women carry this type of bacteria, but do not feel sick. An easy swab test near the end of your pregnancy will show if you have this type of bacteria. If you do have a GBS infection, talk to your doctor about how to protect your baby during labor.
