Syphilis testing in third trimester recommended for pregnant women

If a pregnant woman has syphilis, her sexually transmitted disease can maim or even kill her newborn. Now, local doctors are being urged to test for the infection late in pregnancy.

Shannon Goodman is in her third trimester, expecting her second child, a baby girl, in April. Like most pregnant women, she was tested for the sexually transmitted disease syphilis in her first trimester. Now, local health officials are encouraging doctors to repeat the simple blood test late in pregnancy. That’s because women can catch it while they’re expecting.