What Are the Consequences of Rubella Infection in Pregnancy?
Rubella rarely poses a serious problem for the pregnant mother. However, when infection occurs in the first trimester of pregnancy, it can put the fetus in serious danger. This is because the rubella virus crosses the placenta through the bloodstream. The longer a baby is exposed to the virus, the more likely it is that the baby will become infected. • Approximately 50% of babies exposed to rubella within four weeks of conception will develop signs of congenital infection. • When maternal infection occurs between the 4th and 8th week of pregnancy, approximately 25% of babies will be infected. • When infection develops in the third month, (eight to 12 weeks) approximately 10% of babies will be infected. When maternal infection occurs beyond this point in time, less than 1% of babies will be infected. Babies who are infected with rubella while in the uterus are susceptible to serious birth defects. The four most common defects are: • deafness (affecting 60 to 75% of infected infants); •
