Conditions We Treat

We have broad experience and extensive expertise with treating a variety of infections in expectant mothers during pregnancy. Certain infections affect your pregnancy, while others can impact your developing baby. Below are some of the maternal infections we treat at Stanford Medicine Children’s Health—those that may cause complications during pregnancy, such as preterm rupture of membranes, which can result in an early birth. Our expertise also extends to treating fetal infections—those that may affect your baby’s growth and development. By treating early and effectively, we help avoid or minimize worrisome health complications for you and your baby.

The treatment we recommend often involves medications for you or your baby. Medications include antibiotics, vaccinations, immunoglobulins (antibodies), antivirals, and antifungals—all of which have been deemed safe for use during pregnancy.

Our goal is to help keep your infection under control so it will not be passed on to your baby and to offer a cure when one is available. However, a treatment may not be available in every case. For example, not all viral infections have a related antiviral medication. No matter what, we work hand-in-hand with you to review your options, move forward confidently, and achieve the best outcome possible for you and your developing baby.

Maternal infections

The following infections can affect your pregnancy:

• Candida glabrata - A yeast infection of the urinary tract, genitals, or mouth. In rare cases, this infection may lead to chorioamnionitis.
• Coccidioidomycosis (cocci or valley fever) - A disease caused by a fungus in the soil, found in central and Southern California and the Southwest. It can be treated with an antifungal medicine.
• Chorioamnionitis - An infection of the placenta and the amniotic fluid, which may cause preterm labor and delivery.
• Hepatitis B - In general, hepatitis is an inflammation of the liver. It can be caused by five known viruses: A, B, C, D, and E. Hepatitis B can be either acute (short term) or chronic (ongoing). During pregnancy, we may treat chronic hepatitis B with antiviral therapy if the viral level is high enough to increase risk of infection to your baby. When treated properly, it does not affect your baby.
• Hepatitis C - Another form of hepatitis; it is spread via the blood and is usually chronic. Hepatitis C can be treated (and often cured) outside of pregnancy with antiviral medications.
• Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) - A virus that can cause problems with the body’s immune system. If you have HIV and it’s not under complete control, you can pass it on to your baby during pregnancy, labor, delivery, and breastfeeding. We treat HIV during pregnancy to prevent transmission to your baby.
• Lyme disease - An infection caused by a bacteria that is usually spread by ticks. It is treated with antibiotics.
• Tuberculosis (TB) - A disease caused by a bacteria that affects the lungs. It is treated with antibiotics.

Fetal infections

The following infections can pass through the placenta and impact your developing baby:

• Cytomegalovirus (CMV) - A common viral infection that remains chronic in your body but doesn’t always have symptoms. It is associated with deafness and neurological issues in babies. Antiviral medications may be used, such as immediately after birth to improve outcomes for your baby.
• Fifth disease - A common childhood illness caused by the parvovirus. It doesn’t usually cross the placenta, but it can. When it does, it may cause health issues in a developing baby.
• Group B strep - A bacteria that doesn’t often cause serious illness in the pregnant patient but can make your baby sick at or after birth. It can be effectively treated with an antibiotic before delivery.
• Genital herpes - A sexually transmitted disease that may cause painful genital blisters. Rarely, a baby can be infected and become ill. It is treated with antiviral therapy.
• Listeria (listeriosis) - A bacteria in uncooked meat and vegetables that causes flulike symptoms. Left untreated, it can infect the amniotic membranes and lead to miscarriage, stillbirth, or severe illness in a newborn.
• Measles - A viral infection that produces cold symptoms, a rash, and sometimes more serious complications. It can often be prevented by or treated with a vaccine.
• Rubella (German measles) - A viral infection that causes fever and rash, which can result in birth defects in newborns. It can often be prevented by or treated with a vaccine.
• Syphilis - A sexually transmitted disease that can cause open sores around the genital areas and can affect the central nervous system. When we treat you with an antibiotic in a timely manner, it is almost always a cure for you and your baby.
• Toxoplasmosis - An infection caused by a parasite that doesn’t usually have symptoms in the mother but can have serious mental and physical effects on a developing fetus. Medications may be used in pregnancy to help prevent the infection in your baby.
• Varicella (chicken pox) - A viral infection that causes a rash and blisters. It can cause a variety of problems in a developing baby.
• Zika - A mosquito-borne illness that can cause flulike symptoms in a mother and brain, neurological, and developmental problems in unborn babies.