Infectious Diseases in Pregnancy

Exposure to certain infectious diseases during pregnancy may pose a risk to the unborn baby. Click on any of the links below to find Motherisk's published studies on various diseases in pregnancy.

Risk of varicella infection during late pregnancy
Gideon Koren, MD, FRCPC
Baby has low risk of contracting varicella virus from mom-to-be - MedicalPost.com
N Engl J Med. 1994 Mar 31;330(13):901-5.
Pastuszak AL et al: Outcome after maternal varicella infection in the first 20 weeks of pregnancy.
Influenza vaccination during pregnancy
Ran D. Goldman, MD Gideon Koren, MD, FRC
Varicella virus vaccine before pregnancy: Important breakthrough in protecting fetuses
Gideon Koren, MD, FRCPC
Erythema infectiosum (Fifth disease) and pregnancy
David Mankuta, MD; Benjamin Bar-Oz, MD; Gideon Koren, MD, FRCPC
Am J Perinatol 8: 227-231, 1991.
Levy M, Koren G: Maternal and fetal safety of Hepatitis B vaccine in pregnancy.
N Engl J Med 330; 901-905, 1994.
Pastuszak A, Levy M, Shick Boschetto B, Zuber C, Feldkamp M, Gladstone J, BarLevy F, Jackson E, Meschino W, Koren G: Outcome after maternal varicella infection in the first 20 weeks of pregnancy.
Can Fam Physicians 41: 1477-1478, 1995. No abstract available.
Koren G: Chickenpox during pregnancy; small but real risk.

Pregnancy and Breastfeeding Resources

Morning Sickness

Approximately 20% of women experience NVP for a longer period of time. Some women may suffer from NVP until the end of the pregnancy.

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Drugs in Pregnancy

Pregnancy, whether planned or a pleasant surprise, brings with it important concerns about prescription and over the counter drugs.

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Breastfeeding and Drugs

There are several agents for which safety during breast-feeding is not well-defined and may be a risk to the infant.

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Alcohol, Nicotine, Substance Use

Pregnant? It's never too late to get the facts about alcohol and pregnancy

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Conditions in Pregnancy

Exposure to certain infectious diseases during pregnancy may pose a risk to the unborn baby.

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Folic Acid

Research shows that women who take vitamins that contain folic acid may lower the risk that their baby will be born with a birth defect called a neural tube defect.

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Nutrition

Good nutrition during pregnancy improves the chances of having a healthy baby who will be at lower risk of diseases.

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Infectious Diseases in Pregnancy

Exposure to certain infectious diseases during pregnancy may pose a risk to the unborn baby.

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Herbal Products

Natural doesn't always mean safe. But that doesn't stop millions of people, including pregnant women, from consuming naturopathic products.

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Cancer in Pregnancy

Motherisk has been painfully aware of the lack of data about the management of cancer in pregnancy.

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HIV and HIV Treatment

It is important that you get tested for HIV. There are many pregnant women who are HIV positive and do not know about it.

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Occupational & Environmental Exposures

There are thousands of chemicals in use in today's workplaces - and more women at work than ever before.

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