Protecting Every Mom & Baby Alberta (PEMBA)
Helping every mother and baby in Alberta be the healthiest that they can be by providing evidenced-based information and education regarding infections.
What can I do to stay healthy and protect my baby?
We co-exist with many bugs and germs. Some are very good bugs and help us stay safe from bad bugs. There are many ways infections or “bad bugs” can affect our lives and the lives of our babies. Here are some ways to stay healthy and protect yourself.
Resources, information and data
Understand how to protect yourself and your baby from infections that can cause negative outcomes.
COVID-19
COVID-19 is a new disease caused by a recently discovered coronavirus. It has impacted people worldwide. If you are pregnant, you are at a higher risk of adverse outcomes from COVID-19. Getting a COVID-19 vaccine is the safest way to protect you and your baby.
Influenza
Influenza is an infection of the nose, throat, and lungs that’s caused by a virus. Influenza can happen any time during the year, but it’s most common in the winter. If you are pregnant, you are at a higher risk of having complications from influenza. Getting the influenza vaccine while you’re pregnant will protect you and your baby.
Cytomegalovirus (CMV)
Cytomegalovirus (CMV) is a common virus that can infect almost anyone. Once infected, your body retains the virus for life. Most people do not know that they have CMV because it rarely causes problems in healthy people. CMV is the most common congenital infection (passed on from mom to baby during pregnancy).
Pertussis (Whooping Cough)
Pertussis is an infection of the airways caused by bacteria. Babies are at the highest risk of severe disease. In Canada, 1 to 4 deaths are related to pertussis each year. Getting the dTap vaccine protects you and your baby from pertussis while you are pregnant.
Hepatitis B (HBV)
Hepatitis B is a very common infection worldwide. Babies can get it from their moms at the time of birth, which is actually the most common way people get HBV around the world. Alberta has the 2nd highest prevalence of chronic HBV infection in Canada.
19 to Zero: COVID-19 & Pregnancy
A four-part video series answering questions about COVID-19 in pregnancy, the impact of vaccines on fertility and menstruation and vaccines during pregnancy, lactation and postpartum.
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