Healthy Pregnancy, Healthy Baby: Preventing Congenital Syphilis
Congenital syphilis is on the rise in Louisiana. It happens when a pregnant person has syphilis and passes it to their unborn baby. It can make babies very sick, and it can cause lifelong health problems and even death. Testing for syphilis throughout pregnancy and early treatment are the best ways to keep you and your baby healthy.
Get rewarded for your prenatal visits and more!
Earn $110 in healthy rewards for attending your prenatal visits. You get $10 for each prenatal visit you complete, for up to 11 visits.
Earn $50 when you attend your postpartum visit between 7 and 84 days (1-12 weeks) after delivery.
To start earning rewards, you must first complete a member Notification of Pregnancy (NOP) form.
Earn $30 when you complete your Notification of Pregnancy (NOP) form. Log in and complete online or call Member Services at 1-866-595-8133 (TTY: 711), Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Talk to your health care provider about syphilis testing.
Your provider should take some blood and test it for the infection during one of your first prenatal visits. But if they don’t or you're not sure if they have, bring it up with them.
Important: If you get tested and are positive for syphilis, make sure you get treated right away.
Need help finding a doctor for your pregnancy? Use our online Find a Provider tool or call us at 1-866-595-8133 (TTY: 711), Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. We will work with you to make sure you get the care you need.
![pregnant icon](/content/dam/centene/louisiana-health-connect/images/Pregnant_Icon_100x100%20(1).png)
Questions you may have about congenital syphilis
Syphilis is a sexually transmitted infection (STI). It can cause minor symptoms at first, like painless sores on the genitals, rectum, or mouth. You can have syphilis and not know it. Syphilis is curable with antibiotics. But without treatment, it can cause serious health problems. It can damage your heart, brain, muscles, bones and eyes.
Congenital syphilis is when a baby is born infected with syphilis. The only way your unborn baby can get congenital syphilis is if you have syphilis and it passes it to your baby.
Important: If you have syphilis and it isn’t treated, it can cause serious problems for your baby, including death.
Syphilis is 100% curable with antibiotics. But, if you do not get treated, congenital syphilis can cause problems with your pregnancy, such as:
- Miscarriage
- Stillbirth (when a baby dies in the womb after
20 weeks of pregnancy) - Premature birth
It can also cause your baby to:
- Die within the first 28 days of life
- Have a low birth weight
- Have deformed bones and/or enlarged organs
- Have vision and hearing problems
This only happens if you don’t receive treatment for syphilis. This is why going to your prenatal visits and getting tested for STIs is so important. Treatment before 26 weeks of pregnancy leads to the best outcomes.
You should be tested 3 times during pregnancy:
- at your first doctor’s appointment or as soon as possible in your pregnancy
- during your third trimester
- at delivery
Remember: If you test positive, make sure you get treated right away. Also make sure your partner gets tested and treated so you don’t get it again.
Have Questions or Need Help?
Our care managers are here to help you and your baby have a safe pregnancy and a healthy start. If you have questions or need help along the way, call us and we'll be happy to help.
1-866-595-8133, extension 69016 (TTY: 711), Monday - Friday, 7 a.m. - 7 p.m.