CMV, What now?

[Henrythehappyhelicopter]

I recently posted for a friend whose scan showed echogenic bowel.

Blood tests have proved positive for CMV, she was unwell with swollen glands when 10 weeks pregnant.

I have been googling all evening and things do not look good.

She has scan appointments every month until the end of her pregnancy, but has not been offered an amnio or been given any advice about what this diagnosis means.

Does anyone have any experience, or information.

I am presuming the echogenic bowel means the baby has been infected.

Hi Henry

Sorry to hear your friend has CMV. This is a quote from The American Preg. Ass. who seem to have done alot of research on this:

If a pregnant woman is diagnosed with the CMV infection, there are a few ways that the fetus can be checked for infection. Amniocentesis can be done to check fetal fluids or blood for signs of infection. Symptoms that could signify possible infection include low amniotic fluid levels, intrauterine growth restriction, and enlarged tissues in the brain. Once the baby is born, testing can be done by saliva, urine, or blood.

The above sums up most of the info. i could find having a quick google. Side effects of the infection after the child is born and into early childhood seems rare, and centers around hearing/learning difficulties, but are very varied in severity and undetectable at birth it seems. No where seems to mention EB being a marker for CMV infection in the baby. I think your friend needs to push for more information and possibly amnio form her health care providers.

I wish her luck, and hope the baby is in fact uninffected xxxx

Thakyou so much for taking the time to reply.

If a woman becomes infected with CMV for the first time during pregnancy, there is a risk that she may pass the infection on to her unborn baby. Infection in the unborn baby is known as congenital CMV. It is estimated that 1 to 4 babies in every 200 will be born with congenital CMV.
Only 1 in 10 babies who are born with congenital CMV have symptoms at birth. However, these symptoms can be serious and include long-term problems, such as learning difficulties and hearing loss. A few babies who are born with congenital CMV but have no symptoms at birth will experience hearing loss that develops over their first few years of life.

I don't have any experience of CMV but found this info on the NHS website- thought it may help although you may have read it already. I hope everything goes well for your friend and keep us updated. I agree with the other poster that your friend should write a list of questions at home and pester her health providers.

Updating for anyone that may search CMV in the future.

Baby born weighing nearly 9lbs. Looks absolutely perfect.

All newborn tests including heart scan and hearing test perfect.

Not out of the woods yet but looking good.