Measles in Pregnancy – Clinical & Patient Resources

Measles remains a serious threat to pregnant individuals due to its potential maternal and fetal complications. The Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine (SMFM) offers timely, evidence-based resources to support clinicians in diagnosis, treatment, and prevention, and to equip patients with trusted educational tools.

Clinician Resources

Provider FAQs: Measles in Pregnancy (Updated July 2025)

Summary of Recommendations:

- Pregnant persons without evidence of immunity should receive a single 400-mg/kg dose of immune globulin IV (IVIG) within 6 days of exposure.
- The use of Vitamin A at doses used for supportive treatment of measles is contraindicated in pregnancy.
- Non-pregnant reproductive age people who do not have presumptive evidence of immunity should receive at least one dose of the MMR vaccine.
- Pregnant people who are unimmunized should defer vaccination until postpartum, ideally before discharge from the delivery hospital.
- MMR vaccination is safe for breastfeeding people. Breastfeeding does not interfere with immunity, and the vaccine is not transmitted through breast milk.
- Lactating patients with suspected or confirmed active measles infection should be counseled on safe practices to prevent virus transmission.
- Postpartum patients with suspected or confirmed measles should be isolated to reduce risk of disease transmission. In the case of a confirmed measles infection, the family and clinicians, including the pediatrician, should engage in shared-decision making when considering rooming-in of the infant with the postpartum patient.
Provider Infographic (2024)
Maternal Immunization Task Force Measles Call to Action (August 2025)
Blog: The Rise of Measles is Entirely Preventable (April 2025)