Pregnant Women Should Avoid Exposure to Anyone With Measles
Because of the gravity of the potential complications, pregnant women should be proactive in avoiding exposure to this infection. The following symptoms can clue you in that someone may have measles:
- Red, sore, or watery eyes
- Coughing and sneezing
- Fever
- Runny or congested nose
- Rashes
In general, refrain from having close contact with people who have visible cold-like illness. It might help to talk to your relatives and friends in advance, especially if you’re not vaccinated with the MMR (Measles, Mumps, Rubella) vaccine yet. Tell them that you might not be able to attend big gatherings or receive visitors who have the cold at home.
About Measles Vaccination
The best way to prevent measles during pregnancy is to get the vaccine at least one month before getting pregnant or as soon as possible after giving birth. You cannot get the MMR vaccine WHILE you are pregnant because it uses live attenuated (weakened) virus that can, theoretically, cross the placenta and infect the fetus.
You should also make sure your family members are immunized so that you and your baby are protected from exposure.
When to Reach Out to Your Doctor
Set an appointment with your doctor if:
- You’ve had an exposure to measles. Contacting your doctor is particularly crucial if you haven’t had measles yet or have not received 2 doses of the MMR vaccine.
- You have a weak immune system and had exposure to measles
- Someone at home developed measles or symptoms pointing to measles. Remember that measles is dangerous to kids younger than 5 years old.
Key Takeaways
If you’re not yet protected against measles, you need to be cautious about exposure. This is because the complications of measles include stillbirth, preterm birth, low birth weight, and miscarriage. It is not, however, associated with birth defects.
The best way to prevent measles during pregnancy is to receive the vaccine at least one month before getting pregnant (or as soon as possible after giving birth). Pregnant women should not have the MMR vaccine as the attenuated virus can cross the placenta. Another way of protecting yourself is to make sure that people in the house are vaccinated with the MMR vaccine.
Learn more about Pregnancy Problems here.
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