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Advice urgently needed re contact with sheep

3 replies

Daisybell1 · 01/01/2011 21:24

Hi there, I hope someone can help me

I'm on the 2WW and aiming to test next weekend when AF is due.

OH is a sheep farmer and has just sprung on me that he's booked that day for his ewes to have their pregnancy scans, for which he needs my help.

Firstly he's teasing me by saying he could get the scanning man to do me too Hmm but secondly, I know there are risks for pg girlies being around pregnant sheep but I don't know at what point in the sheep's pregnancy its a problem, or in human ones. Does anyone have any experience of this?

Of course, this is all assuming that there is a BFP next weekend which I suspect is unlikely...

OP posts:
GetDownYouWillFall · 01/01/2011 21:27

I don't think you should be helping with sheep if there's a chance you could be pregnant... found this info, see below:

Pregnant women should avoid close contact with sheep during lambing periods, the Departments of Health, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, and the Health and Safety Executive advised today.

Pregnant women who come into close contact with sheep during lambing may risk their own health and that of their unborn child, from infections that can occur in some ewes. These include chlamydiosis (enzootic abortion of ewes - EAE), toxoplasmosis and listeriosis, which are common causes of abortion in ewes.

Although the number of reports of these infections and human miscarriages resulting from contact with sheep are extremely small, it is important that pregnant women are aware of the potential risks associated with close contact with sheep during lambing.

To avoid the possible risk of infection, pregnant women are advised that they should:

  • not help to lamb or milk ewes;
  • avoid contact with aborted or new-born lambs or with the afterbirth;
  • avoid handling clothing, boots etc which have come into contact with ewes or lambs.

Pregnant women should seek medical advice if they experience fever or influenza-like symptoms or if concerned that they could have acquired infection from a farm environment.

Farmers have a responsibility to minimise the risks to pregnant women, including members of their family, the public and professional staff visiting farms. Any action should be determined by their risk assessment required under the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999.

If a ewe aborts, farmers are advised to ask their veterinary surgeon to take a sample to their local Regional laboratory of the Veterinary Laboratories Agency to determine the cause. In the interests of hygiene, farmers should dispose of all afterbirths promptly and safely.

GetDownYouWillFall · 01/01/2011 21:28

You could always get a highly sensitive pg test and test a day or two before the weekend just to put your mind at ease?

Daisybell1 · 01/01/2011 21:35

Thank you getdownyouwillfall that's very helpful info, it looks like he will have to count me out.

He'll just have to get his cousin in to help and we'll have to side-step the question "why?"

Although I do like the excuse for testing early - I will have a legitimate, work-related reason, won't I Grin

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