All About Pregnancy & Birth

All About Pregnancy & Birth


Ep48: How Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) Can Affect Pregnancy and Babies

December 10, 2019

Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) are a common part of life, though many of us are afraid or ashamed to talk about them. In reality, 50% of adults will have an STI at some point in our lives. This includes pregnant women, and there shouldn't be any stigma associated with having an STI. Having or contracting an STI during pregnancy happens to many people and it's important to know how STIs can affect your pregnancy and your baby. Today I'm running through five common STIs - chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis, herpes, and human papillomavirus (HPV) - to talk about the treatment for each. Treatment for STIs during pregnancy can  be a little different than normal treatments, but it's important to catch infections early so that they don't spread to your baby. Many STIs can only reach baby during the actual birth process, but some can cross over the placenta - so it's best to know what your options are early on. Remember that STIs don't mean anything about your worth - they should just be treated as a health issue that can treated for the benefit of both mom and baby. In this Episode, You’ll Learn About: Why we have switched over to the term STI instead of STD  What STI tests you can expect in your first trimester and why we run them How each of these STIs can affect you during pregnancy  Which of these STIs can affect your baby during pregnancy and which can only be transmitted during birth How each of these STIs can be treated during pregnancy Why it's important to get an accurate diagnosis of the phase of Syphilis, herpes, or HPV you are in Links Mentioned In The Episode How To Make A Birth Plan That Works - Free Online Class! The Birth Preparation Course Ep 46: A Guide to Prenatal Testing and What to Expect from Tests in Each Trimester The Evidence on: Erythromycin Eye Ointment for Newborns by Rebecca Dekker of Evidence Based Birth Join my email list here!