Please reassure me I haven't harmed my baby

[alwaysinaworry]

I'm nearly 31 weeks pregnant and I am worried I've risked my baby, I noticed when I got home today there was something which looked like fluff on my floor, I carried on what I was doing and then later when I went to Hoover I noticed the fluff was gone so I looked at the bottom of my slipper and realised it was soil, presumably brought in by our cat. I didn't want to track it further round my house so I tried to wipe it with a tissue all folded up. I didn't touch the soil at all I don't think, as I just threw the tissue straight in the bin and I immediately went and washed my hands anyway but now I can't shake the idea my hands are covered in toxoplasmosis spores and I'm going to catch it and give it to the baby. I have been terrified of toxoplasmosis throughout pregnancy and know I'm not immune as I've been tested. I thought it would be ok as there were about 8 layers of tissue between my hand and the soil but I feel so anxious and upset now I can't focus on anything. Can anyone help reassure me of the unlikehood of this?

No you have not harmed your baby !!!

It's totally fine! Completely and utterly fine!

Honestly your way over reacting . How do you think cat owners or people who work with animals get through pregnancy !!

You really should see your GP about your anxiety though, that's really not normal.

Does your midwife know about your anxiety? It sounds like you could do with some support.

We live in a very rural farming area and there is literally mud tracked into our house every day on someone's shoes, coat, bags, etc. (even though we don't wear shoes in the house, somehow it still happens). I literally pick dirt up off the floor every single day and have through two healthy pregnancies (I'm 37 weeks now). You can't avoid dirt. Yes, there is always a risk, but it's probably very, very low. Just wash your hands in hot soapy water and you'll be fine.

Have you posted about this before? I read a similarly anxious thread not long ago.
You washed your hands and didn't lick the tissue. It's fine.

Think of it this way. Over the course your lifetime, you will have touched literally tonnes of soil, and didn’t once contract toxoplasmosis. Why would this time be different, particularly if you used 8 layers of tissue?

In any case, the risk of damage to unborn babies falls off a cliff once their eyes are fully formed, so even if you did somehow get toxoplasmosis, it wouldn’t harm your child.

Your anxiety and the resulting hormones are far more of a concern. Are you getting any help?

Very, very unlikely. Even in the very unlikely event of you catching it (you won't); you're in the last trimester so the potential effects have far less serious consequences.
And there's a six week (or longer) incubation period anyway...

I'm a farmers wife and lamb sheep and much out sheds during pregnancy and I empty litter trays sometimes twice a day for our farm cats . Shock horror I even lead out my four horses each day and muck out their stables and often skip out the dung with bare hands if I have ran out of marigolds ! Seriously you are fine and really need to speak to your midwife

I'm a primary teacher and our topic was plants and soil during my third trimester... you'll be fine!!

You haven't. As others have said though, you should probably seek help for your health anxiety though.

The odds of you catching toxoplasmosis from vegetables or meat are much higher than being in close proximity to some soil.

Try and take a breath and logically break down your concerns. Does this seem likely or is it something you've worked up in your mind? I think it's really important you speak to someone about your anxiety and consider getting some talking therapy. It really does help!

If you catch it from vegetables it's because they're coated in infected soil, spugz
Clean ones are no threat at all. Neither is properly cooked meat.

Thanks everyone, that makes me feel a bit better about things. I haven't posted about this before, no. I waited 7 weeks to have an initial meeting with the perinatal mental health team in my area last week, but they now say it's unlikely they'll be able to support me before the baby is here so I'm in process of finding a private therapist. I'm having some CBT but struggling to shake the anxiety to be honest as it feels like every time I make a small bit of progress something like this knocks me back even further than before.

Could you be more insistent with the MH team?

Please help, my LO has struggled since birth with digesting her milk, she always tended to get stomach cramps whilst digesting and this lasted for around 3 months from birth. She is now 9 months old and having 3 meals a day but again is having real struggles digesting her food, meaning frequently she has serious stomach cramps and now seems to be having horrible trouble with trapped wind during the night. We have an appt with the peadiatrican on the 5th feb but can't wait this long anymore. We have cut out starchy food such as carbs our of her diet and writen a food diary but just don't know where to go with this now? Any help would be greatly appreciated

Hi ariadne, I've been telling midwife and GP how anxious i am since about 16 weeks, they referred me to the MH team at 23 weeks and then it was just a case of waiting. I also had an assessment with the community MH team last week after referral from GP and they didn't think it was necessary to refer me to perinatal team despite me explaining how much I'm not coping. They have given me the option of medication but I'm really worried how that could affect the baby and at this point I think without some kind of additional therapy or support they wouldn't combat the anxiety.

mindutopia I live on a farm and am exactly the same as you!! Have survived one lambing time while pregnant and will be 18 weeks tomorrow with my second bub.

Please don’t worry OP. You’re completely fine

@alwaysinaworry you are doing the right thing seeking out a private therapist. They can definitely give you some tools to help you cope.

I'd also suggest going to see your GP. It doesn't have to be pregnancy related and therefore through your Midwife. Another option would be to contact MIND and see what they suggest?

@KLRobs87

You need to start a new thread love!

Ah. You have my sympathies. I feel it's hard to not get anxious when pregnant and it sounds like you are suffering lots.

Can I just ask a self interested question?
Who tested you for immunity to toxoplasmosis? Did you do it privately or on the NHS?

Thank you

It was on the NHS window, I asked my gp because I have been so worried.

I had 11 indoor cats and cared for another 60+ when I was pregnant. Scooped poop/cleaned litter trays throughout my pregnancy. Ds is now 2yo and in rude health. Honestly, your baby will be fine.