Chorioamnionitis - Health Risks For You and Your Baby
The amniotic sac is a fluid-filled bag that surrounds your baby in your womb. It provides your child with nourishment and cushioning. Additionally, the fetus breathes the liquid in and out, which exercises the lungs and respiratory muscles, readying them for breathing air. The amniotic sac also keeps the baby's temperature steady whether you are hot or cold. Thus, when the amniotic sac becomes infected, it can spell serious problems for you and your unborn child.
There are certain bacteria that can live in your vagina and rectum without causing any infection or ill health to you, such as group B streptococcus, E. coli, and bacterial vaginosis. However, when this bacteria migrates up into the uterus during your pregnancy, it can attack the chorion, amnion, and the amniotic fluid that surrounds a baby. While this can cause fever, rapid heartbeat, sweating, and tender uterus in the mother, it can also cause health issues for the child.
While the baby is still in the womb, your doctor cannot really check for a fever and other signs of illness. However, you can be monitored to see if your baby develops a fast heart rate as well. The problems of the bacterial infection typically manifest themselves after the delivery of the baby. If the bacteria is allowed to reach the child, he or she can develop bacterial infections after birth, such as meningitis and pneumonia. Also, exposure to these bacteria may contribute to respiratory distress as well as bleeding in the brain. This is more serious in premature babies, as chorioamnionitis can cause you to deliver early.
In order to circumvent these problems, doctors should be able to diagnose chorioamnionitis and start you on antibiotics in order to protect your child. Physicians can usually detect the infection with a simple physical exam. However, your doctor may also decide to take a blood or amniotic fluid sample so that he or she can look for signs of bacteria. Also, to check for fetal distress, your obstetrician can use a sonogram to check your child.
Once your doctor has determined that you have chorioamnionitis, he or she will probably start you on antibiotics as soon as possible. You will probably have to take these medications until delivery, although your obstetrician may decide to induce or remove your child via caesarean section to help minimize the newborn's exposure to the bacteria. Of course, the only true way to rid yourself of chorioamnionitis is to give birth.
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There are certain bacteria that can live in your vagina and rectum without causing any infection or ill health to you, such as group B streptococcus, E. coli, and bacterial vaginosis. However, when this bacteria migrates up into the uterus during your pregnancy, it can attack the chorion, amnion, and the amniotic fluid that surrounds a baby. While this can cause fever, rapid heartbeat, sweating, and tender uterus in the mother, it can also cause health issues for the child.
While the baby is still in the womb, your doctor cannot really check for a fever and other signs of illness. However, you can be monitored to see if your baby develops a fast heart rate as well. The problems of the bacterial infection typically manifest themselves after the delivery of the baby. If the bacteria is allowed to reach the child, he or she can develop bacterial infections after birth, such as meningitis and pneumonia. Also, exposure to these bacteria may contribute to respiratory distress as well as bleeding in the brain. This is more serious in premature babies, as chorioamnionitis can cause you to deliver early.
In order to circumvent these problems, doctors should be able to diagnose chorioamnionitis and start you on antibiotics in order to protect your child. Physicians can usually detect the infection with a simple physical exam. However, your doctor may also decide to take a blood or amniotic fluid sample so that he or she can look for signs of bacteria. Also, to check for fetal distress, your obstetrician can use a sonogram to check your child.
Once your doctor has determined that you have chorioamnionitis, he or she will probably start you on antibiotics as soon as possible. You will probably have to take these medications until delivery, although your obstetrician may decide to induce or remove your child via caesarean section to help minimize the newborn's exposure to the bacteria. Of course, the only true way to rid yourself of chorioamnionitis is to give birth.
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