The doctor will check to see if you're still immune to rubella. If resistance has waned and you contract rubella during the first trimester, your baby is at risk for mental retardation and for heart problems. If you're a carrier of the disease, your newborn may contract it from contaminated blood during delivery. Doctors then will give her injections of hepatitis B immune globulin to prevent infection, and follow them with a vaccine for long-term protection. If you have untreated syphilis, there's a 50 percent chance your baby will be infected, and he may develop other complications.
Antibiotics usually prevent it from crossing the placenta.
It helps doctors screen for chromosomal abnormalities such as Down syndrome and spina bifida. After you've swallowed a soda-like substance that contains 50 grams of glucose, the levels of sugar in your blood are measured to check for gestational diabetes. Your doctor will repeat this test to make sure you haven't developed anemia since your first visit. Copyright 2001, The Parenting Group.