Threadworm during pregnancy

[furrymoocat]

I'm in early stages of pregnancy and have had worms for about a week now. I have been advised by nhs direct and GP that medication cannot be taken during first trimester only.

This completely freaked me out as I was told I would have it for about 6 weeks. It took me ages to find anything on the internet that explained what I could do. If like me you are still in first trimester there are several suggested alternative actions you can take:-

Hygiene:-

• lots of hand washing
• shower before bed and when you get up
• cut nails very short
• don't share towels
• thoroughly clean house to get rid of eggs in house dust
• change bedding daily
• wear pj's with belt do you can't itch in your sleep
• treat rest of family with over the counter medication (Ovex?)

I'm not sure how effective these are, but I've tried ALL of them and it does seem to be helping - I definitely feel a lot less wriggly and itchy!

Diet:-

• Cut out sugar and alcohol
• Eat as much as you can of garlic, papaya, pomegranate, probiotic yoghurt
• Twice a day chew a teaspoon of raw brown rice until it's a paste then swallow
• lots of whole grains and fibre (fibogel is good) to keep you soft and regular as most of the foods advised above paralyse rather than kill the worms and fibre flushes them through minimising opportunity to lay eggs

And finally, I know this sounds gross but mix a tiny bit of garlic paste with Vaseline a put it on your bottom hole at night. Shower off as soon as you wake up as this will contain worms and eggs.

Hope that helps - please let me know if you've come across any other suggestions!

I think you have it covered.

I got them in last trimester and was worried about delivering a baby and worms at the same time.

After the first trimester they are still not keen to let you use medication but there is one that is safer than ovex - i forget the chemical names - and I used this with no ill effects on baby. I had to talk to consultant and do lots of persuading though.

I really feel for you but sounds like you are coping MUCH better than me - I have a phobia of larvae. As in real bona fide phobia.

Thanks. That's good to know.

It does freak me out at times like the night I found out I had them and wouldn't get out of the bath for 4 hours!, but I have to distract myself or I'll go crazy. The worst thing is when I'm at work in meetings and all I can think about is the wriggly little blighters

I thought dd had them when I was pg (don't think she did, think it was pg paranoia, but thats hindsight for you ) and I have the phobia too...

...you can take piperazine, and it was ok-ed by a consultant OB for me in the 3rd trimester (think she just wanted to humour me ). I can't remember the name of the actual over the counter med, but whatever it is it ocmes in both forms: piperazine and mebendazole, so make sure you get the right one. You need to repeat the dose two weeks later, IIRC.

Well done for coping!

Should have said: you can take it AFTER the first trimester, as hobbgoblin said.