Cytomegalovirus...Wwyd?

[SeaShellsOnTheSeaShore]

Wwyd if a friend and her dc has been diagnosed with cmv? Would you see them? I have a real dilemma. I'm third trimester, have a young ds and not seen her for ages as she lives 100s miles away but passing v close on holiday.

Any experiences or advice?! Thanks :)

bump - anyone?!!

I would be very wary & I think if your friend understands the risks of CMV when pregnant, that she would not like to risk you getting CMV either.

I have a few friends who have children with severe disabilities through contracting CMV while pregnant.

I found this link www.askamum.co.uk/Pregnancy/Search-Results/Health/Cytomegalovirus-CMV/, I hope this helps.

I had CMV in my 1st pg - from what I've been told (by Dr Impey, he attended me through my pg once diagnosed actually), and what I've read, CMV only affects 1st time pgs. But I have no idea about whether it can affect babies if picked up in later pgs.

Also, I understand it's passed on through contacts of bodily fluids - if you're meeting for a cup of coffee, I can't see how you could pick it up from that?!

(btw, my neighbour and I spent a lot of time together during her pg, she didn't get it, both she and her baby are perfectly healthy)

Personally, I'd agree to meet up, but keep kissing/major hugging to a minimum and wash hands afterwards, or take some anti-bacterial hand gel stuff with you.

Thanks for the replies!! It's tough isn't? From what I've read it does need close contact/nappy changing/sharing drinks so I still trying to get a response fromy midwife!

I had never heard of it before!

me neither till I was told I had it!

i'd stay away, why risk it. Your friend will understand.

Mw didn't call today so will have to try tomorrow again. It's tough because she lives 7 hrs away and with young children it's v difficult to meet up.

Go with your instincts.

You can get it in any pg. Yes it's from bodily fluids but someone could sneeze all over a supermarket trolley you then touch

Most common you get it kissing as a teen or from drbbley toddler/ child.

It's v serious to catch in pg if you have never had the virus before. Think over 50 per cent pg women are already immune.

However, having had a baby with congenital cmv- thankfully assymptomatic- I wouldn't think it too precious to avoid contact where known about. It is only a small no of babies that are affected by it but still..

Tis one of most common causes of deafness yknow. My ds still has to have reg hearing checks for this. Obv not as devastating as the severe cp, epilepsy etc etc he could have had. But even the checks and ct scans as a baby were v stressful

Why don't you address your concerns with your friend? I'm sure she is very knowledgable and certainly has no wish to expose you. BTW a minimum of 50 % of the people you know are carrying CMV, the child isn't any different, you have singled the child out. You shouldn't be exchanging body fluids with anyone during your pregnancy. Vist www.stopcmv.org/ for more info

I spoke with my mw who in turn spoke to the lab who said not to risk it, even though the risk is low if you practice good hygiene. We are still debating it, as my friend says it's up to us :) my friend is understanding, but frustrated as so many of our friends are pg she has felt very isolated in this post natal period.