Pets and Pregnancy

[Polaroidsnapshot]

Hello, anyone else worry about having pets and being pregnant?
I have a dog and she’s the light of my life but since being pregnant, hygiene has really played a huge part in my OCD acting up, I had it under control before but since I became pregnant it’s really turned up so many notches! Midwife and doctors know about it and things are being put in place but just wanted to ask here if anyone else feels this way OCD or not, or if I’m over reacting or if I’m acting appropriately?
I just feel like my dog is disgusting and covered in germs 24/7, like when she plays in the garden I’m petrified that she’s stepped in something out in the garden, maybe some poo that we haven’t managed to pick up or didn’t see, and then she’s dragging it through the house, or when she’s out on a walk and then comes back in and drags whatever through the house, or when I’m out the garden pegging stuff on the line and I’ve stepped in something?
Like today my dog has an accident in the house (bless her she must not be feeling too good or must have eaten something) she’s had lots of love but my partner cleaned it up like the actual poo bit but I feel like he only used a single cloth to clean it and his hands must have touched it cause the cloths are thin, he did wash his hands straight away and I have a flash mop so I hoovered it and mopped twice but I just still feel so unclean and this all boils down to me being petrified of getting an infection, like I’m petrified of getting one and just feel like my fur baby is full of germs and bacteria, especially having and accident in the house, she hasn’t in years but she can’t have made it to the back door to tell us she needed to go, but does anyone else feel like this? I just feel like there’s particles of poop everywhere and things aren’t clean enough, please don’t make fun I just am feeling a bit overwhelmed and freaked out that I some how have poop everywhere now!

[Aisforharlot]

Classic ocd, obviously. I say with love, and as a fellow sufferer, you will not get the reassurance you seem here. you need to tackle the ocd - please tell midwife your symptoms and have them refer you to antenatal mental health team. In the meantime visit ocd-uk.

[SmidgenofaPigeon]

I’m not going to make fun of you obviously but that is rather severe anxiety. Do you think you might feel that way when you have a baby too and there’s poo and sick and dribble to worry about? What about when it’s crawling and getting into all sorts?

If the midwife etc is taking a while to put things in place I’d urge you to consider paying for private counselling and/or CBT.

[Aisforharlot]

I am on ssris and in a much better place than when I was pg with ds1. I recognise your thought patterns and my heart honestly goes out to you - this level of anxiety is so bloody exhausting.

[Polaroidsnapshot]

Thank you everyone, I shouldn’t be seeking reassurance I know 😔 I just feel like I’m at my whits end of being petrified of getting an infection now, constantly worrying that things aren’t clean and especially after my dog having an accident in the house I just feel like it’s set me back again a bit with worrying and just stressing there’s bacteria and germs all about the place.
I know I won’t worry about sick and poo and things like that when it comes to me, what I’m scared of is catching an infection while I’m actually pregnant, I wasn’t really germophobic before pregnancy my OCD presented itself in other ways but that’s a story for another time haha but since being pregnant it’s latched onto the thing I fear the most and it’s getting an infection so I’m so worried that everything around my home is just so dirty, especially my little fur baby 😔
I’ve been referred to the antenatal mental health team I’m just waiting to hear back at the moment, thank you for being kind though everyone and not making fun, like aisforharlot I’m just mentally exhausted, I’m so glad it’s gotten better for you though, there’s hope for us fellow sufferers out there!

[Aisforharlot]

There is absolutely hope! Most days I barely remember I have ocd, but once, and for years, it wrecked my life.
Glad you've got the referral. Stay strong - my therapist says having ocd is like Dragon slaying. You have to be so brave just to get through the day.

[Fizzl]

Hi, yes this is definitely something I worry about too! Mine is slightly different because my dog is very elderly and is now regularly having accidents in the home (also looks like she has colitis or ibd too so you can imagine it's not always pleasant!). If she does make it outside she regularly needs to have an emergency bath when she's either stood or fell in her poop outside because her legs are quite weak and wobbly now.

I don't think I'm overly anxious about it - I think i'm being quite rationale (most of the time) to worry about the house being covered in animal wee and poop when expecting a baby and how we're going to manage once baby has arrived. I also get the worry about feeling like your house is dirty (especially if like us your house is otherwise kept really clean so not used to feeling like everywhere is suddenly contaminated with poop!) and that you're going to end up poorly.

But in your case if it's just happened the once I really wouldn't worry - I get that's easy for me to say when I'm actually quite envious you've only had the one accident to deal with 😂. Mines quite extreme as it's happening pretty much daily now so I'm probably not the best person to offer much advice other than I can sympathise with how you feel. Our dog has also been our baby and prior to being pregnant I don't think it would have bothered me as much as it is now - it's just coincided that she's really gone downhill whilst I've been pregnant so it all feels quite heightened I think.

[Fizzl]

Oh and I should have said you're doing the right thing by getting support. Mines a really bad comparison to your situation so I agree with what everyone else has said as it's horrible to worry so much each day.

[BabyC21]

I have severe anxiety but not OCD, so I can relate in a certain sense but not completely. However in the nicest way possible it’s your OCD, it’s not rational. Think about it this way, did you get sick from interacting with your dog before? Unlikely. Will you get sick now? Also unlikely. I have a dog and I have to remind her to please not lick my face after I just saw her licking her a*s... but the odd time she gets a sneaky one in. I’m 26 weeks and all is fine with baby, I’m sure he will get lots of ‘affectionate’ licks when he’s born from the dog... dog doesn’t seem to care that she’s the only one that enjoys her licks 🙄🙄 I hope you get the support you need, it’s great you have looked for it and it will hopefully help you a lot in the long term. However please don’t be afraid of the germs or the dog. Wash your hands and surfaces a little more regularly sure, but please don’t let it consume you xx

[Peaplant20]

I worry about this too! Got two dogs and feel like everything is constantly disgusting!! Hey really obsessed with washing my hands after touching them feel like nothing I touch downstairs (where they stay) is clean. Our lounge goes straight into the back garden so I feel like they go in the garden and tread dirt and germs straight into the house.

[Chelyanne]

We have a dog, she is off lead trained so runs all over through goodness knows what when I walk her. Tbh it's just the joy of pets and you need to just accept it, clean regularly and try to relax. You can't go washing your dog all the time because you'll cause problems for them, ours has to have her feet washed this time of year due to allergies but she doesn't like it lol. Our kids probably bring in more germs than she does anyway and she's quite keen on keeping herself clean too. I don't allow her to lick me, my husband doesn't like that either and we both cringe at people who let their dogs go crazy licking them.
I did have to give her a bath, wash her bedding and get her new toys because she smelt pungent to me in the 1st trimester. Thankfully I'm over that now.

[Katy4321]

So sorry about how you are feeling, and can't really comment on OCD, other than I find myself worrying about things more.
What I can say is that your risk from your own pet is likely quite low, as you will have been interacting with them for months/years before pregnancy so will have a good immune response to their germs already. It is right to be a bit cautious and careful but I don't think you need to worry too much - I know it is easier said than done.
For me I think of risks in terms of crossing a road, for example, without looking or listening - a big deal if a busy fast road, but most things I worry about would be like doing that on a quiet lane - not ideal but very unlikely to have serious consequences.
Not sure if that helps at all, but wish you the best in your pregnancy

[CausingChaos2]

I’m not going to reassure you as that is part and parcel of the OCD. But as a fellow sufferer I can certainly identify the thoughts you’re having as similar to mine around contamination. The best thing to do is address these fears for the irrational thoughts they are. Seeking reassurance here will only provide (very) temporary relief. Good luck. I hope things are much better for you soon.

[Nikki360]

I just wanted to say I understand. I have ocd and it's exhausting a constant battle and when it flares up it's awful. I lived with a cat and a dog during my first pregnancy and I was obsessed with the potential germs. I was 19. The dog had never been properly house trained so daily accidents were normal. The cat also at times preferred using the sink or the bath as a litter tray. I was in a state daily. Awful. However my now 25 year old is absolutely fine and I wish I hadn't worried so much and enjoyed the time. You will be fine x