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Original poster

Ttc + Thailand = Zika Virus + No baby

66 replies

16MrsE · 01/04/2017 18:40

Just wanting to warn people of the disappointment me and my Husband have had.

We've been ttc since Christmas and had planned to have our first child this year. We had already had our holiday planned and paid it off. We informed the doctors who then booked us in for the relevant time for holiday injections. On Friday we went in for these injections and was then told by the nurse we will no longer be able to ttc due to the high risk of Zika virus in Thailand. This risk was not mentioned when booking the holiday.

If I was to go on the holiday alone I would be free to ttc after 8 weeks of returning but because I'm with my husband and the virus lives for 6 months within mens sperm we now won't be able to ttc until next year. If we were to become pregnant the baby would be born with brain damage and a smaller head than average, chances of blindness and deafness etc.

This news has totally floored out plans of becoming parents. I just want others to be aware so you have it in mind when looking at holidays x

OP posts:
TheseAreTheGoodOldDays · 04/04/2017 14:42

Stupid question - do you always know if you've been bitten? As in, you always get the itchy, irritated spot?

OnNaturesCourse · 04/04/2017 14:40

Thanks all.

I used DEET 50% all day gel and then topped up with DEET 25% spray most days. I stopped in the last few, only using the spray occasionally, as my skin was unhappy.

Zika didn't even cross my mind before TTC or I would have waited.

arbrighton · 04/04/2017 13:59

As MrsTerryPratchett says, you can't guarantee not being bitten. I usually didn't get bitten and got bitten in Singapore, where there has been Zika, at the start of our trip. Also fell pregnant on said trip. Use DEET. I didn't and if I had, wouldn't have been bitten.

Much toing and froing, no test (to my surprise) since I didn't show symptoms but four weekly growth scans- now 27 weeks and had the first a couple of weeks ago.

I think YOU MUST NOT TTC is perhaps a bit extreme

TheseAreTheGoodOldDays · 04/04/2017 13:24

Bloody Zika! All these problems it's creating!
I'm one of those people who needs something to obsess about Grin the last few months it was preparing to TTC, now I really need to find something else for when I come home!

powerpuffer · 03/04/2017 22:58

TheDonald Unless you're having sexual contact with anyone then you can't transmit it Smile

Lovely of you to be concerned though!

Are you going to Mexico to get them to pay for your Wall? WinkGrin

TheDonald · 03/04/2017 22:22

Can I jump in here? I'm off to Mexico next week with dd. No chance at all of either of us conceiving in the next six months but I work with 2 pregnant women and a close friend is ttc.

Is there any danger of transmitting the virus on return to the UK?

powerpuffer · 03/04/2017 22:10

I went to Florida in September and conceived in Jan. Even though we had the private test and got the all clear, I mentioned it to my midwife at the booking in appointment and she sent me for more tests after having numerous calls with the local lab and Public Health England (or whatever they are called). Apparently they like to have their own test results in my notes. If I were you I would ask for them to test you now you are pregnant. I'm sure the risk is very low but better to make everyone aware.

MulderitsmeX · 03/04/2017 21:34

You'll be fine, it's scary but it's so so unlikely. Plus I'm sure they would have noticed on the scan now if there was a problem with baby. Plus it was 5 months after so even if DH had it it will have mostly left his system anyway. Flowers

OnNaturesCourse · 03/04/2017 20:48

Sorry to butt in... Panic just set in.

I fell pregnant exactly 5 months after returning from Florida. I thought we were safe after 8 weeks however just read that for males its 6 months! We were both in Florida and now im freaking out. Ive tried to find if we can be tested but apparently they are only reliable if you have symptoms at the time. Neither of us had symptoms, i had a few spots but could have been heat spots. DP had none that we can remember. What on earth do i do?! The midwife and GP didnt even asked at my early scan... Im so scared.

OnNaturesCourse · 03/04/2017 20:48

Sorry to butt in... Panic just set in.

I fell pregnant exactly 5 months after returning from Florida. I thought we were safe after 8 weeks however just read that for males its 6 months! We were both in Florida and now im freaking out. Ive tried to find if we can be tested but apparently they are only reliable if you have symptoms at the time. Neither of us had symptoms, i had a few spots but could have been heat spots. DP had none that we can remember. What on earth do i do?! The midwife and GP didnt even asked at my early scan... Im so scared.

TheseAreTheGoodOldDays · 03/04/2017 19:02

I think that will end up being our plan too Smile we wanted to start TTC last October, and there's always been a reason to wait a little longer, then a little longer.. Then we booked our holiday, talked about babies lots over the last couple of months, both assuming we'd start trying when we got home, and then read about the high risk of Zika. Very disappointing!

Original poster
16MrsE · 03/04/2017 14:28

I know right!? I'm too impatient I won't be able to wait until next year it seems so long away.. May need to save up and get the test done asap once we come back. Xx

OP posts:
TheseAreTheGoodOldDays · 03/04/2017 14:04

16MrsE I think that will be our plan too! Now just need to fill in those 6 months with something other than thinking about babies...

HbH · 03/04/2017 07:03

My husband & I 'never get bitten', I didn't knowingly get bitten & he only got one but that wasn't without a huge effort on our part. We went with 4 and a half bottles of maximum jungle formula (50% DEET i think), bought another one out there, took a mozzi plug for our room & had suncream with repellent in! We sprayed everytime we left our room, everytime we had gone in the pool or the sea, everytime we thought we had sweat enough to rub it off, everytime we reapplied sun cream! Spraying once you've got bites is too late. Even if you're going to wait 6 months anyway it's probably worth minimising the chances in the first place!

Original poster
16MrsE · 03/04/2017 05:05

Like I said. We are going to just assume we have the virus once back and take the precautions until cleared so we don't risk any harm to a potential baby.

OP posts:
MrsTerryPratchett · 03/04/2017 03:41

We never get bitten. How would you know? If you can't feel it and you don't react.

Original poster
16MrsE · 03/04/2017 03:35

We never get bitten. Going to take sprays with us and use if we do get bites but either way we are going to be coming back with the assumption we have the virus just to be safe until we are cleared x

OP posts:
MrsTerryPratchett · 03/04/2017 03:27

Me and my Husband never get bitten and so never use sprays or creams. This is no guarantee. You may be being bitten and not reacting to the bites. Don't rely on this.

Original poster
16MrsE · 03/04/2017 03:21

My husband organised the holiday, he likes to get good deals so usually doesn't go direct to big companies such as Thomas Cook etc. Thailand is his bucket list holiday. He's said he would have changed it but it's too late now we've paid final fees extra. Obviously if I was pregnant already we wouldn't be able to go and we'd fight for a refund or exchange of come kind. Period is due today or tomorrow so we'll see. But if I'm not, we'll still have to go on the holiday and look Into a test. Ttc or not it's not nice to not know where you stand with a serious virus :/ xx

OP posts:
NewBallsPlease00 · 03/04/2017 00:21

Which company are you travelling with? For cost of jabs you could probably pay admin fee and switch to somewhere non zika and be far more relaxed?

powerpuffer · 03/04/2017 00:08

The test checks your antibodies so is definitive and you can start TTC straight away if both clear. There are two types of test though, depending how soon you are tested so it's best to do a bit of research to make sure the test is timed right.

Original poster
16MrsE · 02/04/2017 22:39

If you have the test and both of us was to come out as clear is there no chance of it developing later on as I've read that it can live upto six months In men and they may not show symptoms for three months x

OP posts:
powerpuffer · 02/04/2017 22:08

Unfortunately your DH is going to have to use condoms, it is effectively a sexually transmitted disease. This means no oral sex either as it can transmit in all fluids. The pill will help you stop getting pregnant but it won't stop any transfer of disease and with so little research on Zika right now, I wouldn't be putting myself at any risk at all - as I mentioned before, the advice keeps changing as more is found out about it. No one knows the long term impact. Just my thoughts on the matter though!

SofiePendragon · 02/04/2017 22:02

I think if you are pregnant already your travel insurance ought to cover it, as travel there then wouldn't be advised.

Original poster
16MrsE · 02/04/2017 21:41

Kind of hoping my period doesn't show and I'm pregnant.. I'd put a complaint in to holiday provider and try get a swap or refund xx

OP posts: