A baby can be infected in diverse ways but it has been observed that a baby is generally infected by his/her mother who often bears the bacteria or virus of a disease. Hepatitis B, Group B streptococcus (GBS), HIV and Hepatitis C are some of the conspicuous examples of mother-to-baby infections that can jeopardize the life of a baby.
Virus and bacteria generally transmit from the mother to the baby during the time of birth. The consequences of these infections may vary depending upon various factors and sometimes it can cause the death of an infant if the disease is life threatening.
Causes of Mother-To-Baby Infections
Mother-to-baby infections are caused when a fetus is exposed to viruses and bacteria in the womb of his/her mother. A fetus grows up in the womb where it is surrounded by amniotic fluid that protects it from the possible dangers. But if in any case, this amniotic membrane is damaged, a baby can be infected by any fetal disease because he/she has not developed any kind of immunity system.
When a baby emerges from the womb of his/her mother womb though the birth canal, he/she can come in direct contact with some bacteria that usually reside in the skin of a pregnant woman or in her vagina.
These bacteria can be harmful or can be innoxious. If an infant comes in touch with some harmful microbes at the time of birth, he/she can be affected by gonorrhoea. An infant may be infected by hepatitis C, hepatitis B or HIV from the infected blood of his/her mother. This is one of the most common cases of mother-to-baby infections.
Infections can be transmitted from a mother to her infant by skin contact. During the time of holding or feeding a baby infections can be transferred from the mother to her baby. It has been observed that a baby gets infected from a skin disease that his/her mother might be having.
But in most of the cases this infection leads to minor complication. However, if a baby is infected by methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, then it has to be heeded with care and caution.
Types of Mother-To-Baby Infections
Mother-to-baby infections can be of different types. HIV is one of the common and yet lethal infection that can jeopardize the life of a child. A child can be infected by this virus during the time of pregnancy or obstetrical delivery. If a pregnant woman is HIV positive, there is a high chance that her baby can be infected by HIV. Breastfeeding can also transmit this virus to a baby.
Herpes simplex virus is another type of virus that can be transferred from a mother to a baby. This virus can lead to many complications. Blindness and cerebral palsy are the two catastrophic consequences of this virus that might have adverse effect on the baby. This virus can affect a baby at the time of birth or in the womb of his mother.
Hepatitis C is another deadly virus that can pass from mother to her baby at the time of obstetrical delivery. It is the direct contact of the blood that can cause this disease. The risk of being affected by this disease can be multiplied if the mother is carrying the virus of HIV. But this virus is not transferred through breastfeeding.
Mothers who are carrying the virus of Hepatitis B may give birth to a child who is also affected by this virus. A direct contact with bodily fluids or blood can infect a baby at the time of obstetrical delivery.
Group B streptococcus which is known as GBS is a common bacterium which is carried by approximately 25% women across the globe. A baby can be infected by this bacterium at the time of birth or in the womb of his/her mother. These bacteria generally reside in the vagina of a pregnant woman.
Treatment of Mother-To-Baby Infections
The treatment of mother-to-baby infections can vary depending upon the infection. Treatment before obstetrical delivery can help a pregnant woman to give birth to a health child. As vaginal delivery can infect a child from various kinds of virus and bacteria and in such cases the doctors suggest delivery by caesarean. If it is been observed that a mother is infected with HIV virus, practitioners suggest mothers to stop breastfeeding.
Advice:
The treatment during pregnancy needs to be executed with proper care and caution. As there is a greater chance of producing side effects, the whole process should be monitored by an experienced doctor.
