February is International Prenatal Infection Prevention Month. When you come in for your first prenatal visit with Capital Women’s Care, we will provide you with a packet of information that lists what you should try avoid during pregnancy including unpasteurized dairy, raw meat, certain cold cuts and exposure to cat litter. These are a few of the environmental exposures that could lead to prenatal infections.We will discuss your past medical history and assess your risk for potential environmental exposures. Depending on your potential exposures/risks, we may recommend additional testing to look for infections that could impact the pregnancy such as toxoplasmosis and CMV. During the course of your pregnancy, you will also complete routine tests which include screening for Group B Strep, urine infections, HIV and Hepatitis B.Group B Strep (GBS) is a type of bacteria that is commonly found in the digestive tract and lower reproductive tract. According to the CDC, 15-40% of women are colonized with GBS meaning they will test positive for it. You will be tested around 36 weeks of pregnancy for GBS. If positive, you will be given IV antibiotics at time of delivery. It is important to have GBS testing and be treated if positive as GBS infections in newborns can cause pneumonia, meningitis or sepsis. Routine prenatal care is key in preventing and detecting prenatal infections.Here at Capital Women’s Care, we want you to have a healthy pregnancy and we strive to provide you with the best pregnancy care! Schedule an appointment with one of our women’s health specialists and see for yourself why Capital Women’s Care was voted Best OB Gyn in Bethesda, MD.
