Significance

• Ultrasounds can monitor your fetus's weight as low birth weight is one of the early signs of symptoms of chlamydia in you and your baby. An ultrasound will be able to show if the fetus is smaller than it should be at this stage. Also, watch for signs of prematurity. Usually a mother who has chlamydia will deliver the baby at least a couple of weeks early and up to a couple of months early.
  
  

Identification

• When your baby is born premature, difficulty breathing is a concern. A fetus does not usually begin breathing on its own until approximately 36 weeks. Low birth weight can cause heart problems and undeveloped lungs. Eye problems can occur when symptoms of pus or discharge are present. Redness or swollen eyes also can develop. Pneumonia is associated with chlamydia as well. This includes cold or flu-like symptoms. The child may experience difficulty breathing or deep coughing.
  
  

Time Frame

• The fetus does not contract chlamydia until it passes through the vaginal fluids. The fluid that contains the disease passes onto your baby. Immediately when the baby is born, symptoms of low birth weight and prematurity are present. Within one to two weeks, your newborn may develop the eye symptoms. Pneumonia also may occur within four months of birth.
  
  

Effects

• The effects of Chlamydia are long lasting if treatment does not occur. The baby can suffer heart palpitations. Heart medication or surgery could be required. It will have severe ear infections, which can lead to partial or full hearing loss in one or both ears. Lung infections may arise, causing pain and discomfort with breathing as well as coughing. It also may develop a severe case of asthma.
  
  

Prevention/Solution

• Simple antibiotics can prevent the mother from giving the newborn baby chlamydia. Your ob-gyn may perform a sexually transmitted disease test on you as soon as you are pregnant. If the test is not offered, ask for one. Even if you do not believe that you are high risk, the test is quick and painless to complete. If you do pass on chlamydia to your newborn baby, receive treatment right away. An antibiotic medication will relieve the symptoms of chlamydia within two to four weeks. Not all newborns may show signs of chlamydia. Ask the pediatrician to test your baby for this disease even if you do not believe you are a high risk.