If a mother has an STD/STI, it is possible for the fetus or newborn to become infected. Some STDs/STIs, including chlamydia, gonorrhea, genital herpes, and cytomegalovirus can be passed from mother to infant during delivery when the infant passes through an infected birth canal.
What happens when a newborn has an STD
When a newborn child contracts an STD during birth, the infection is often much more severe than in adults. For example, infant gonorrhea and chlamydia can cause eye infections, pneumonia, or infections of the joints or blood. A herpes infection in newborns can be life threatening, causing brain damage, blindness, and damage to other organs.