Hand, foot, and mouth disease during pregnancy: What expectant moms need to know

Your toddler just came home from daycare with a low-grade fever, skipping snacks, and tiny red spots on their hands, feet, and mouth. Suddenly, your search history reads: “HFMD symptoms,” “how contagious is HFMD,” and “can pregnant women catch hand, foot, and mouth?”

If you’re pregnant, that worry can snowball fast. You’re already washing your hands, eating right, avoiding certain foods, and now this? Getting sick while pregnant is scary, especially when you’re unsure how it might affect your baby. Take a breath, mama. You’re not alone, and it’s completely normal to feel anxious.

Here’s the reassuring news: hand, foot, and mouth disease (HFMD) is very common, especially among toddlers and preschoolers. It’s usually caused by a mild virus, most often Coxsackievirus A16 or Enterovirus 71, and spreads easily through sneezes, coughs, and shared toys or cups.

But what happens if you catch it during pregnancy? Is your baby at risk? How do you treat it safely? We spoke with Dr. Rachel Miller, Obstetrician & Gynecologist at Atrium Health, to walk you through what’s normal, what to watch for, and how to keep yourself and your baby healthy.

HFM disease and pregnancy, is it dangerous?

Here’s some reassuring news: most of the time, HFMD is mild and harmless in pregnancy.

“I’ve only seen this a couple of times in pregnant patients,” says Dr. Miller. “Typically, pregnant women get it from their other daycare-aged children who contract it from other kids, like at daycare. From what I recall, the babies haven’t had any issues or complications from this virus.”

That said, HFMD can still make you feel under the weather, with fever, sore throat, mouth ulcers, and a rash can leave anyone cranky. But in most cases, the illness passes within a week to ten days without affecting your pregnancy or baby.

What are the possible complications of HFMD?

While HFMD is typically mild, doctors do keep a closer eye on infections that happen late in pregnancy. If you get HFMD near your due date, there’s a small chance the virus could be passed to your baby during delivery, called vertical transmission, but this is very rare.

“If a pregnant mother gets infected in the third trimester, it can potentially affect the pregnancy to a greater degree,” explains Dr. Miller. “Be sure to discuss with your physician if you suspect that you may have HFMD, as they may recommend increased testing like NSTs or ultrasounds. The recommendation may vary. Paying attention to your baby’s movements is crucial.” So yes, there are precautions, but nothing that should send you into panic mode.

Treating HFMD during pregnancy

Since HFMD is viral, antibiotics won’t help. The best treatment is time, rest, and supportive care.

“This is a virus, so antibiotics are not appropriate,” says Dr. Miller, “Rest and hydration are the best. Acetaminophen is important to keep fevers down. We do have evidence of the dangers of untreated high fevers in pregnancy. Please avoid ibuprofen, especially in the second and third trimesters. Mouth rinses of saltwater can be helpful and ease the pain of the sores.”

Cool, soft foods like yogurt, smoothies, or popsicles can soothe mouth sores and keep you hydrated. If you develop a fever, treat it right away; high, untreated fevers during pregnancy can be harmful to a developing fetus.

How to prevent HFMD

With little kids in daycare, HFMD can feel almost impossible to avoid, but small steps really help. “They should be sure to practice good hygiene, like washing hands and avoiding close contact with those individuals with the infection,” advises Dr. Miller, “I do realize that this can be hard to do if the sick kid lives in your own home.”

HFMD is most contagious during the first week of symptoms, so that’s when extra caution goes a long way.

Here are a few tips to prevent HFMD:

• Wash your hands often, especially after diaper changes or wiping noses.
• Avoid sharing utensils, cups, or towels with someone who’s sick.
• Wipe down toys and frequently touched surfaces.
• Try to avoid kissing your child, especially around the mouth, while they’re contagious.
• Cover coughs and sneezes with a tissue or elbow.
• Stay home if you’re experiencing symptoms.

What to do if you are exposed to HFMD

If you’ve been around someone with HFMD, especially your own child, and aren’t showing symptoms, take a deep breath. There’s no need to panic or run for the doctor right away.

“There isn’t anything specific that they need to do,” explains Dr. Miller. “It’s important for them to monitor their temperature. If they have a fever, it should be treated. Having high temperatures in pregnancy that go untreated can be harmful to a developing fetus.”

So, just keep an eye on your temperature, rest up, and hydrate. If you start feeling unwell or if your fever doesn’t go down, call your OB for guidance.

Conclusion

HFMD during pregnancy can sound scary, but in most cases, it’s mild and temporary. Rest, hydration, and fever control are your best friends here. So if you’re dealing with HFMD in your home right now, you’re doing great, mama. This phase will pass soon, and your baby (the one you’re carrying and the one with spots) will both be just fine.

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• Pregnancy 101: Can you take magnesium when pregnant?
• Ask the expert: What are the early signs of preterm labor, and when should you call your doctor?
• Ask the expert: What you need to know about postpartum preeclampsia

Sources:

• Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease: Signs and Symptoms. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 2024. “HFMD Symptoms and Complications“