“Some of these STDs get passed along while the baby is being delivered and can also be passed along through breast milk”, states Stephanie. It’s important to get screened for STDs once it is confirmed that you are pregnant. Some STDs can also cause women to have premature labor. According to womenshealth.gov, some harmful effects of passing an STD to the baby may include low birth weight, pneumonia, brain damage, blindness, chronic liver disease, stillbirth, among others. So proactive screening is essential.