Pregnant with toxo, should I get rid of the cats

[apachepony]

that's it really. Told this morning testing positive for toxoplasmosis. It's not the cats fault & upset to get rid o them but will we be able to look at them if we have a disabled child? In tears and feel so guilty especially as my family went on and on about the cats

I don't understand either- what is the point on getting rid of your cats now? Even if you did catch it from them, which you may well not have. You seem strangely determined for it to have been your cats "fault" , and I think maybe the worry about the illness means you aren't thinking all that rationally. Vast numbers of us have cats, cats do generally bring rats and all sorts in, as long as you are treated properly now, I don't see why you need to get rid of your cats .

Everyone always goes on about cats in pregnancy Katherine. I had two, healthy adult male cats (females and kittens are most likely to carry toxo) and they're all my MIL talked about all through my pregnancy.

They'd make me sick, they'd sufforcate the baby, the would scratch the baby, they could bite the baby, the baby would eat their poo, they'd suck the baby's soul out while my back was turned

The Jack Russel Terrier I owned was never mentioned. I guess it's safe to say MIL is a dog person, not a cat person.

I'm sorry to hear about your test results OP but I agree with others. It may not have been the cats and even if it was, it's done now. Rehoming them won't change that. You will just feel worse. Go get your cats and give them a hug and be kind to yourself. These things happen. It's not your fault or the cats. It's just one of those awful things.

helly, the OP says in her first post "It's not the cats fault"

Helly.... The baby. That's why. Op will be fine, baby could have issues

Yes, Katherine, but rehoming the cats now will make what difference? Besides upsetting the OP even more than she already is?

And the baby most likely will be fine. Are you always so cheery and positive? You sound wonderful

I don't think anyone is suggesting not 'considering' the baby , but rehoming the cats at this stage is surely not going to help the baby?

Katherine the OP hasnt said anywhere that the MW agreed the cats were a problem, just that the MW saw OP had cats and agreed to arrange the test. Might just be a standard thing if you have cats and request a test?

I dont see the point in OP worrying too much until she can see the specialist and maybe get the cats tested, especially as it might not even be from the cats. And yes I suppose there might be some resentment if any problems arise but chances are everything will be fine and if not, Im sorry to sound mercenary but it wasnt done by the cat (if it is the cat) deliberately and getting rid of the cats wont change a thing either way, nor will shutting them outside now.

I would suggest speaking to cat charities and seeking foster care to give you some space. Cancel the family visit if poss. Get a friend to stay/visit lots while dp away, unless he can stay home. Look after yourself while you wait for more tests and therefore info on whether your baby is affected.

I can see absolutely what you mean about not being able to love the cat if your baby has been affected, but its not possible to know yet either way.

Thinking of you, this must be really hard to deal with.

But the OP could have got toxo from gardening - just as likely as direct from the cats.

I had toxo during pregnancy. I had my cat tested by the vet, and he was clear! So we had to conclude that I'd caught it from something else

DS2 was fine.

And I also asked to be tested for toxo on the offchance. My midwife said she wasn't sure if the NHS would agree, but filled in the form. I toddled off to the local hospital for all of my booking in blood tests, and no-one queried doing a toxo test.

I still dont see what difference it will make now op already has it and no one here seems to know either.

I don't get the idea of taking revenge on a pet for "giving" you toxoplasmosis. It is (almost always) due to touching cat faeces, rather than the touching the cats. It can also come from gardening.

Does the midwife really know that this is a recent active infection? If so, why are you not on antibiotics already, which is the standard treatment in pregnancy. In any event (not to minimise) it seems that, with treatment, only 29% of babies are affected by maternal toxo, and of those only a small proportion are severely affected.

"Newborn babies

Amongst newborn babies whose mothers had toxoplasmosis or active T. gondii infection during pregnancy, 20?50% are also infected at birth. The risk of infection is reduced if the mother receives antibiotic therapy while she is pregnant; 44% of infants born to untreated mothers with acute T. gondii infection are infected at birth, compared to 29% of those born to women with acute infection who were treated with antibiotics during pregnancy.

Some 10% of infants born to infected mothers are severely infected and show symptoms of the infection at birth. The remainder have sub-acute infection, meaning that they host active T. gondii parasites (tachyzoites) but do not display symptoms of the infection when they are born. In these babies, symptoms may develop later in life, although some babies born infected with T. gondii never develop symptoms of the infection.

Australian statistics regarding the number of babies born with T. gondii infection are limited. Studies from the United States have reported an overall incidence of congenital toxoplasmosis (toxoplasmosis in a newborn) of 1.1 infections per 1,000 live births. Up to 4,000 cases of congenital toxoplasmosis are estimated to occur in the United States each year."

The reality is that you have a 90% chance of having a healthy baby. Having cats around babies has also been shown to reduce the incidence of asthma. FWIW, we have a cat and two toddlers and it never occurred to us to get rid of her. I just did the litter whilst my wife was pregnant (and somehow, subsequently...)

Good post larry, and also "hahahahahaaaaa" at being the Litter Changer, MrsGrylls isnt daft is she

also OP i seem to remember being told to stay away from farms when pg because of a small risk of something.....cant remember what now, but tell your Dad to stick that in his arse and blow it out if he starts going off on one.

No katherine you are not the lone voice on here. I am sat here at some of the replies.

People-gafg! its cats v the baby-no contest imo. Op now has a 10% chance of having a baby infected with this potentially dangerous infection and you are all saying oh well poor wee kitties!

Well in my book its poor wee baby!

I am sorry op but I would be getting rid of those cats immediately-how could you bear to look at them if god forbid your baby has been affected?

I send you very best wishes that your baby will be fine.

It's not the cats fault. They didn't deliberately set out to pass on toxoplasmosis. In addition animals are not objects to be disposed of when they become an inconvenience

Goran I think a lot of us on here dont think getting rid of the cat as, as Larry said, 'revenge' will solve anything.

And have also given measured, non-worrying, non-handflapping replies that there is every chance it hasnt come from the cats and that it is highly likely the baby will be fine.

Shreiking "get rid of them imemdiately" is OTT while at this stage OP doesnt know how long she has had it, and, again, if it is even from the cats.

So no, its not cat vs baby at all. Unless the cat is planning to harm the baby in which case I agree 100% the cat should be rehomed.

Yes you are right-they are "animals" and thats why the baby should take precedence....

If the nurse/midwife is so worried why isnt op on antibiotics and booked in for a follow up blood test to confirm the infection has been cleared.

hairy-op does not know yet if baby has been affected but can you imagine the worse case scenario and it is-do you honestly believe op wont end up hating those bloody cats whether or not they were the source of the infection?

I would be extremely worried if I was in this situation and having to concern myself with cats who from the sound of it are unhygenic at the very least would be way down on my list of priorities.

Sorry op-I am with your family on this-get rid of the cats!

Again I hope your baby is fine.

But it won't make any difference to the baby now will it goran? It isn't cat v baby

i can well understand why it would be hard to feel the same about the cats if the baby goes on to develop problems,if he gets congenital toxo, maybe regardless of whether it was the cats what done it, but that's way down the line.

Larry, I missed the midwife's calls yesterday, today was the first day they could make contact, and the specialist isn't in til tomorrow - hence why I'm not on antibiotics yet, I presume I'll be put on them tomorrow. The cats will stay, but b will have to wait for any more cuddles til I find out what's the story. To be honest, I don't find a one in three chance of baby being affected a v reassuring statistic . the sooner they can carry out an amnio to see if it's infected the better, though I'm worried that as termination isn't allowed in this country, amnio won't be til 24 weeks or so. If amnio shows no infection passed, all ok. If baby born w trouble, I couldn't keep the cats - I know that's not logical but emotionally - no way, especially for dh who's less bonded to b. B's popular on our street, and one of the ladies who feed them when we're away might take him in, maybe the lady who's cat just died. Couldn't bring older cat back to a dspca cage, god knows who would rehome her, she pukes and isn't v affectionate so guess we're stuck w her! She's less needy and prefers being outside, just needs fed really, so she would prob be ok

I wouldn't resent the cats if my baby turned out to be affected, so I wouldn't get rid. Guess that's a personal decision.
Hope it all turns out well, OP.

I dont have anything else to offer on the cats - everyone has said their opinions.
I just wanted to say that i understand how you feel. I discovered when i was pregnant with my DD that i had cytomegolavirus. Most adults will have had this unknown to them as a child so will be immune. It turned out i hadn't, and i have no idea where i caught it. It can be very dangerous to unborn baby and cause all sorts of problems (and she still has to have hearing tests at 4) and i panicked like hell. Everyone tried to reassure me that it would be ok, but i was googling like crazy (then wishing i hadn't)
I just wanted to say try not to worry, even though it is really hard. Speak to your doctor and midwives, take their advice and i hope everything is well with your pregnancy and your child.
My DD was thankfully fine
Take care x

Goran, what I am saying is that OP should get the cats checked out so she can make an informed decision. and if she decides she couldnt look the cat in the eyes again then please dont just chuck them in a box and take them off somewhere that will probably just PTS.

Do you not agree with that or are you more of an act first think later kind of person?

Scaremongering at this stage isnt helpful to the OP.