The baby can suffer widespread damage; leading to problems such as meningitis, eye infections, pneumonia or jaundice. The baby may be born too early (premature labour) or be miscarried or stillborn.
Listeriosis is picked up from infected food, particularly pâté, certain cheeses, and unwashed fruit and vegetables.
If you are pregnant:
-Don 't eat soft mould-ripened or blue-veined cheeses such as Brie, Camembert, Stilton, and goat 's cheese. You can still eat hard cheese, cottage cheese and yoghurts.
-Don 't eat pâté.
-Avoid unpasteurised dairy products (including unpasteurised ice creams).
-You can drink probiotic yoghurt drinks and eat 'live ' yoghurt as long as they have been pasteurised. Check the label.
-Wash pre-packed salads thoroughly before eating.
The risk from cold (pre-cooked) meats and smoked salmon is fairly low, but you may wish to avoid them while you are pregnant.
Wash your hands before and after handling food.
Wash fruit and vegetables.
Cook food thoroughly (especially meat, eggs, chilled meals and ready-to-eat chicken).
Check 'use by ' dates.
The early symptoms of listeriosis are similar to flu, and include headache, fever, muscle pain and chills. Some people also have diarrhoea and an upset stomach. See your GP immediately if you have these symptoms, especially if you have eaten something that may carry the infection. You will have a blood or urine test.
If you have caught the infection, you will need to have antibiotics to stop the infection reaching your baby. If the infection has reached your baby, the doctors may decide that your baby has to be delivered early. This is so it can be treated with antibiotics to reduce the severity of any damage.
First trimester (weeks 0 to 13): Listeriosis is rare. There is less chance of passing the infection to your baby during the first trimester, than in the second and third trimesters.
Second and third trimesters (week 14 to birth): Although listeriosis is rare, there is more chance of passing the infection to your baby during the second and third trimesters. Follow the advice given above and see your GP immediately if you have any of the symptoms described.
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