I went to a Petting Farm - now I'm freaking out.

[TheBlondestMumAlive]

Hi Everyone. I wonder if someone who has been pregnant longer / or before could help me as I'm freaking out a bit. Today we took my nephew to the petting farm and i was happily feeding the goats and lamas and then as we went into another room there i see a sign "Pregnant women should not feed the animals as they can catch diseases etc etc" so i wash my hands and wrists, use about half a tub of that antiseptic gel.
My question is: do i need to be worried (like i am) about having permanently hurt my little bean or do you think washing my hands would have got rid of any nasties even if i picked one up.
Has anyone else pregnant fed goats and gone on to tell the tale, or am i just stupid for not knowing this. From google it seems everyone else knows that pregnant people shouldn't feed animals, but apparently i didn't get the memo.
Oh dear!! any advice would be so great fully received...im a first timer and evidently CLUELESS!

I think you can take some reassurance from thoroughly washing your hands. As far ad I am aware, pregnant women should be especially aware of contact with sheep during lambing time because of the risk, but petting farms probably have the signs up year-round. There are nasty bugs that hang around animals, but handwashing should suffice and not put you at any greater risk than others at the farm

God, that was a long and complicated way of saying "don't worry"

I've been to a couple of petting farms whilst pg and was only told not to feed the sheep as there is potentially something that can be passed between pg sheep and pg humans. I fed everything else, just washed my hands thoroughly afterwards.

As far as I know the advice is usually to do with avoiding very young lambs or kids as there is something in the afterbirth, which it's possible could remain on their coats, that could possibly be linked to MC in pregnant women. However the chances of you actually having contact with them young enough are vey slim, and around lambing season petting zoos will make sure you know where the babies are so as to avoid.

I've never heard of having to avoid feeding all animals because of being pg though, I have 2yo DD & am 39 weeks with DC2, petting zoo/farm type places are an almost weekly regular for us.

It's easy to get so worried about everything but you've made sure hands are washed after handling/touching the animals and I really don't think you need worry yourself too much over this. Congrats on your little bean :)

Wow thank you so much!!! I feel much better now, so kind of you to reply and put my mind at rest.

Is it just me or is there like a million things that you have to watch out for, and i feel like i don't know any of them....i think i need to go to Waterstones and pick up "Pregnancy for Dummies". HAHA.

If you tried to take in every little thing your head would implode trying TI remember it all every time you went out/fancied a snack/wanted to go somewhere/use a product etc. Best advice I got was to make sure you know about the 'serious' stuff (the ones your GP/midwife should discuss with you) and use common sense for everything else. And keep posting on MN, the pg forums are usually really helpful.

You'll be absolutely fine.

Firstly, as the others have said, it's around lambing time that you have to be careful as there is a risk of a couple of nasties. But lambing finished a long time ago.

Secondly, lots of pregnant women (me included!) live on farms - if we never left the house / went near the animals we wouldn't stay very sane

Thirdly - you washed your hands!

Good luck with the rest of your pregnancy, try not to worry!

I went to the safari park a month ago, got far too intimate with a giraffe, and appear to still be healthily pregnant... as long as you didn't share a tongue kiss or fish around their poo you will be fine!

There really aren't a "million things you have to watch out for".

There are a million different hysterical "warnings" on the internet which should be researched (if you are really that worried), and mostly ignored.

If something is going to happen to your baby, chances are you can't do anything about it.

What do you think farmers' wives do? Or people with smallholdings? Do they stop feeding their goats for 9 months?

Of course not.....

I think you will be fine if you washed your hands, remember the thousands of years that people have been farmers etc.

Hi, I work with animals, lambing season is done, just wash your hands and don't worry about it honestly

It's EColi that farm animals carry. If you super duper washed your hands & arms & you haven't had an upset stomach since then - you should be fine.
Prob tell your MW at next appt just to be sure though.

I agree there's sooo many things to watch out for. I had 2 lovely poached eggs, then was informed only to eat hard boiled. Annoying!

I've got sheep and lambs don't worry!! Just wash your hands thoroughly.

The main risk is during the birthing process and when the lambs are new born.

The main risk with most farm animals is listeria, toxoplasmosis etc. Short times spent with them etc. You'll be fine!! The risk with undercooked eggs is salmonella, however anything lion marked should have no risk either. They are all tested!

Hi horseylady if you keep animals then you know what you are talking about

I just called my dad about the egg salmonella thing- he is (a retired) govt food microbiologist. Been to lots of factories etc & he said don't trust the egg industry. They say all eggs are screened for salmonella, but he doesn't believe they are 100% so I should still hardboil eggs.
Ho hum, oh well- just got a great excuse to add heaps more butter!

Just to say I am now 27 weeks pregnant and went to a petting farm at lambing time when i was 5 weeks pregnant and held lambs, fed sheep whilst there, didn't know there were risks but did use comman sense and washed my hands afterwoulds ! I am fine , it was the slapp cheek virius that I caught from human kids which actually put me at risk and had to have weekly scans for 12 weeks ironically...but again have been given the all clear and all is fine !