AIBU to worry about baby getting worms

[mummatobe123]

I've always had anxiety and am prone to OCD thoughts, but my latest worry is that my new baby (8 weeks old) is going to get threadworms and we won't be able to treat them. From my research, there's nothing suitable for under 2's anymore.

I think that's insane that there's nothing to treat them with and they expect babies to just suffer with them until they're old enough for ovex!? Does anyone have any reassuring words for a very anxious new mum?

If you have good hygiene, it's unlikely to happen. Unless you have a preschooler, primary aged or nursery attending child in the house?

Thanks for your reply :) we don't - but my niece is 1 and attends nursery and we've spent a lot of time with her, so I guess I need to accept it's a possibility

The longest they should have them is 6 weeks which is the normal life cycle. As babies are in nappies and can't scratch their bum and transfer eggs back to their mouths they should die off of their own accord. Assuming all other sources or reinfecytion are killed, hot washes etc.

I have 3 children, the youngest is 10. They have been in multiple childcare settings over the years and have never once had worms.

I think you should work on your anxiety, as it is really not normal. I have no idea what age worm medicine is for as I've never used it. Why have you looked into this so much?

Honestly, I think I've become a bit obsessed with worrying. It started as I've had some itching myself (which I think is actually TMI post-birth piles) but have fallen into a bit of a... wormhole ha... and have ended up completely panicked and freaked out by the whole thing :( I'm on anxiety medication to help with my generalised worry, but this seems to have completely taken over my brain

I used to feel the same about them and worried and worried... Until we got them. I felt disgusting, unclean and horrified.

Then I did some research. At any given time, 40% of primary aged children have them. That's a flipping lot. And most children are asymptomatic so most people think they've never had them. But realistically, if it's so many infected children at any one time, probably most people have had them and not noticed. I don't know why, but instead of worrying me, this helped. I realised it was rife and I couldn't fight that. I could only practise good hygiene, teach it to my children and hope for the very best.

A doctor can prescribe the medicine though - when we needed it I had a 6 month old and was breastfeeding. The doctor told me to just buy the OTC medicine for all of us and I did and they never returned!

Omg I remember worrying myself silly about this as I actually had threadworms when I had a newborn. Hours lying awake worrying! Was all OK in the end. Try not to worry though. Im sure there will be a way to treat if it happens.

We used to get worms a lot as kids, we were outside playing, around animals non stop, not very hand-washy. It was fine. It's not nice, but it's not especially awful either.

Your baby is very unlikely to get worms, but if you did the doctor would find something to prescribe if it was needed. They wouldn't let your baby suffer without any help, and as PP said, the longest it would last is six weeks.

I struggle with similar intrusive thoughts and I find that working through what I would do if The Bad Thing happened was helpful. But ultimately I need therapy to stay sane - I would strongly recommend it, it's been such a balm.

At any given time, 40% of primary aged children have them oh god. Really?! 40%?! Ew

A family member once told me their whole family had worms while youngest was still a small baby. The treatment prescribed was apparently effective when passed though her breastmilk to the baby so youngest child didn’t need a direct dose.

If it makes you feel any better, you would be able to see them in the pooey nappy sometimes. Try to keep an eye on your anxiety though, if it gets too much talk to a Dr, it's so easy to focus on the baby and not take care of our own health!

Step away from the Internet would be advice. My son, 7, had them and did not pass anything to my daughter, 18 months old. It's unlikely your baby will get them from your niece

OP when my third DC was a newborn my eldest (5 at the time) got nits from school. I was convinced she was going to pass them on to the baby, even though he only had a tiny bit of fine hair .
Mine are 8, 5 and 2 now and as far as I know we haven’t had
a worm infestation.
The chances of your baby catching worms is very, very slim, please don’t worry.

I would be more worried about yourself than the baby. Have you squatted over a mirror to check for piles? Please treat them and take care of your rectum in general! After two children mine is wrecked .
Do you think you may have PND? I obsessed over my kids health when I had PND and ignored my own physical and mental health.

Find a tin with a lid.

When you KNOW you're having an irrational fear (like the worms thing) write the fear down on a piece of paper; put it in the tin, and seal it up. Tell yourself " I've put that idea away for good and |I'm not going to take it out again. ".

 You'll  get others, just do the same.

Thank you for the lovely, kind replies everyone. I do have an appointment with the doctor to discuss my own mental health. I think the responsibility of having a little one is getting the better of me - as I just want to protect her from anything bad happening, and the thought of not being able to help or treat her if she did get worms is incredibly overwhelming.

@2bazookas that is a really good tip, I'm off to find a tin!

OP, in the nicest way, I think you need to think about how to deal with your anxious thoughts. It’ll be worms today and something else tomorrow….

But - and I speak as someone who was very anxious - sometimes your worries will be founded so it’s about finding that balance.