Terrified about toxoplasmosis

[Blondie87]

I've made a really stupid mistake and I'm so worried. At the weekend I ate a steak which was about medium (perhaps med-rare) as I thought it was ok. I've since learnt that this carries a risk of Toxoplasmois and while if caught at this stage it's less likely to reach baby, if it does the effects can be devasting. I'm five weeks along. Got a MW appt. tomorrow so will request a blood test to check but I'm so scared and angry with myself. I'm so conscientious in most respects! Anyone been through this?

[Smile150]

I'm sure you will be fine iv eaten meat which had been quite pink and haven't had any problems. And as it's only once it will be OK.

[Stom91]

At only 5 weeks I wouldn't worry. Lots of people drink and eat Steak before they find out. I was drunk 3 days before I found out.

With baby still being so teeny it would do any harm. Xx

[AButterflyLightsBesideUs]

I do sadly have experience of toxoplasmosis in pregnancy. It was a lot later on though, and I lost my DD at 20 weeks (no heartbeat at 20 week scan). We only found out as a result of a wide range of bloods drawn when she was born that I had a massive toxo infection. I then conceived again just 6 weeks later (before we'd had the appointment for the bloods results when the consultant advised a break of 6 months to allow the infection to die down and my own immunity to develop) and a very stressful pregnancy ensued with extra consultant scans to look for damage. Thankfully all was fine and that baby is now nearly 5 years old.

At the time we were told we just had to wing it through the early weeks with the question mark of toxo effects on the new baby. Apparently the antibiotics they give to pregnant women to counter toxo (spyromycins) are not licensed for the 1st trimester.

I did a load of googling and found that even catching toxoplasmosis didn't necessarily mean it would be transmitted to the baby, and the effect of toxo infection depends on gestation. If a toxo infection is transmitted to the baby during the 1st trimester the likely outcome is an early miscarriage , in the 2nd trimester it can cause massive abnormalities or loss, and in the 3rd trimester usually non lifethreatening damage eg hearing loss.

I will say the chances of you contracting toxoplasmosis from that steak are very small. It probably wasn't contaminated anyway.

However, you can request a blood test to check whether you are already immune to it (in which case panic over), or whether you have an infection.

Remember, even if you have an infection, it doesn't mean it will certainly be transmitted to your baby. You baby is not currently hooked up with a cord or placenta yet so probably pretty unaffected by what's going on in your body.

And also, if you are unlucky enough to have a miscarriage, it is hugely unlikely to be due to toxoplasmosis, it was probably on the cards anyway so please please please don't blame yourself.

For future, toxo sources include rare/raw meat, cat faeces, soil, unwashed fruit & veg (esp from your garden if cats ever go in it). Washing and cooking thoroughly will make it safe - it dies at about 70C.
And if you have had toxo before (and you probably wouldn't have noticed, it's so mild and undangerous to non pregnant people) then you have life long immunity. My consultant spoke to the UK expert on toxoplasmosis to clarify that about the immunity to reassure me.

I hope everything is fine, I'm sure it will be. I'm sorry you've had such a fright.

[user1463996941]

You will probably be OK. Tell the midwife though if you are worried. That's what they are there for. Most things that they tell you to avoid are just extra protection. Like not eating runny egg or shellfish.

[Blondie87]

Thank you so much butterfly for your post. I'm so sorry to hear about the loss of your DD, that must have been devastating. I really appreciate you being kind enough to explain then the risks by gestation too.

im relieved that my MW appt is tomorrow so I don't have to wait too long to talk it through. Thanks to all the others who have posted too.

[fenouil]

HI Blondie
Did you get the results of your test? Im guessing you are fine.
I caught Toxo at 5.5 weeks pregnant. I ate a salad in a restaurant.. i believe thats where i got it. The symptoms followed that night. extreme fatigue, sweats and sore throat. I was a little blazé about it too.. having said I've not caught it in all these years of living abroad and indulging in rare everything... Then as a routine screen, they found I had it. So I've been on Antibiotics since week 8 and I'm waiting to have an Amnio. Such an idiot. what didn't help is that I was on steriods to stop me rejecting my baby ( 3 M/C) so my immunity was even lower than, just being pregnant.. Dreading the results of the test.. tho as Abutterfly.. says if its a terrible infection the foetus will miscarry..
fingers crossed things turned out fine for you and will for me