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Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

Original poster

Health anxiety specially toxoplasmosis

27 replies

Monty19 · 15/04/2018 18:11

So I do have anxiety and I am starting CBT on Monday and discussing possible medication then too but I want to explain something that happened to me which is currently worrying me and I’m hoping for some rational reassurance.

Last week on Tuesday we went to an outdoor play area. When we arrived I realised there were donkeys, alpacas and goats with kids. I checked if there were any sheep or lambs and any newborn goats. There weren’t. I stayed away from the animals and my mum took my daughter to feed the goats with animal food, she then took her to wash her hands with warm water and antibacterial soap. We then went on to wash our hands several times while we were there even once we’d left the animal area and I avoided gates and fences and when we left my mum (bless her) used antibacterial wipes for our boots and shoes. The kids were already a month old and didn’t touch my daughters clothes, only her hands when she fed them and we did wash our hands well throughout our visit. Do I need to speak to my MW in your opinion or have I taken all the precautions I needed to? I’d appreciate any responses as at the moment I am being irrational and cannot see sense and decide if I need to speak to someone about risk of infection or not. 😞

OP posts:
Emma198 · 15/04/2018 18:14

I'm sure you'll be fine sounds like you've been sensible x

fourpawswhite · 15/04/2018 18:14

Plenty precautions, no need to worry. Flowers

I live on a farm and we are lambing so over the years have become very aware of this and the risk. I have to cross the yard to get to my car. Via the lambing shed, as do many other farmers.

Yes it is best to avoid the lambing shed and the particular risk comes from handling new born lambs immediately as they are born, ie, with afterbirth or placenta products nearby.

Calledyoulastnightfromglasgow · 15/04/2018 18:14

Oh god. I remember this worry. I had it too.

You will be fine. Absolutely fine.

You are probably more at risk from undercooked meat.

I worried about toxoplasmosis through each of my pregnancies as I knew I hadn’t had it. Despite ingesting undercooked meat and visiting farms and having a dog that regularly rolled in all sorts of crap that I had to clean up, I had three healthy babies

Nogodsnomasters · 15/04/2018 18:15

Coming from someone with health anxiety I think you have done enough and do not need to contact anyone. You will be fine.

Original poster
Monty19 · 15/04/2018 18:24

Thank you everyone, I cannot tell you how much this has helped. I am trying so hard to stay rational and actually hearing from other people that you think I’ll be ok has helped so much, what an amazing group. Xx

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Calledyoulastnightfromglasgow · 15/04/2018 18:25

You are welcome. I remember all the worries!!

There will be a new worry soon Wink

Original poster
Monty19 · 15/04/2018 18:31

🙈

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Snorebrown · 15/04/2018 19:04

Hi Monty this couldve been me writing this yesterday. My little one wanted to go to a farm yesterday and i didnt think anything of it until i saw the ewes and lambs. Then i started worrying. Like you we washed our hands and i tried not to touch anything. I didnt touch the animals but was worried just being near the lambs might be an issue. I asked about the lambs but the last one was born a month ago. Lots of googling toxoplasmosis has made me worry no end. I don't know if im immune or not. It feels like there is always something to worry about. You're not alone i guess is what im saying in feeling like this. Take care xx

Scrowy · 15/04/2018 19:11

I've lived on a farm my entire life. I've lambed hundreds of sheep, bottle fed hundreds of newborn lambs and also had cats my entire life. I love a good juicey rare beef or lamb steak and I dont wash my fruit or veg other than when I'm pregnant.

So if toxoplasmosis was that easy to catch I would have caught it presumably?

Nope. Two children, tested for immunity in both pregnancies, still appears I haven't been exposed to toxoplasmosis yet.

Providing you exercise good hand washing and don't go around licking the sheep's bums the risk should be minimal.

Original poster
Monty19 · 15/04/2018 19:13

I’m so sorry, it’s so hard isn’t it? From what I’ve been told since my panic it tends to be wet newborn lambs and especially after birth and fluids from birth. It’s also true that farms would have posters up at areas of danger and if you read the NHS guidelines they are all about pregnant ewes and new lambs not lambs old enough to be seen in farm parks (can you tell I’ve been listing worries and evidence?! 😞). It doesn’t help does it but I think if you are worried you have to look out flu type symptoms, sore throats and swollen glands and see your GP or MW if you carry on worrying to see what they think. I found the previous posts really reassuring too, maybe they’ll help you to relax too? It’s a never ending cycle for me, it was slap cheek a few weeks ago I was obsessed with and now this! Roll on the baby being here and another nine months of different worries! 😂

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Original poster
Monty19 · 15/04/2018 19:16

😂 Oh Scrowy, us town dwellers are hopeless! Seriously though, thank you this has made me laugh at myself and really helped me put my worries in proportion, there are so many horror stories around it makes relaxing and enjoying pregnancy much harder I think. Xx

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Snorebrown · 15/04/2018 19:27

It was tuna for me last week monty!

littlecabbage · 15/04/2018 19:31

Same here - vet who did lots of lambing as a student, and has dealt with a lot of cat poo! Also don't wear gloves to garden and eat medium rare steaks (when not pregnant). And yet have always tested negative for toxo exposure. So I think it's fairly hard to catch.

Sounds like you washed your hands a lot - I think you would be extremely unlikely to have been exposed to toxo.

Original poster
Monty19 · 15/04/2018 19:32

Same! And caffeine in tea, spent half an hour on the phone to Aldi checking their cheese spreads. Honestly, I shouldn’t be left alone! 🙈

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Original poster
Monty19 · 15/04/2018 19:34

Thank you littlecabbage, it really helps to know this. I do fixated on health issues and having some kind reassurance really helps. 😁

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Quiltsalot · 15/04/2018 19:40

I know someone who got toxoplasmosis during her pregnancy, it’s incredibly rare and she was unbelievably unlucky. It’s so rare the staff in her hospital had never come across it before and she had to be referred elsewhere

Quiltsalot · 15/04/2018 19:43

Also to say this was a good number of years ago and I think the knowledge around it is much better now. I wouldn’t be worried given what you have posted op, it’s so easy to freak out about stuff when you’re pregnant though.

Aw12345 · 15/04/2018 20:19

Work with animals as a day job... it's good to be sensible but I'm sure you'll be perfectly fine :-)

Original poster
Monty19 · 15/04/2018 20:36

I'm so pleased I found mumsnet, I'm so grateful for your comments and reassurance, I'll be a regular visitor from now on!

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Littleblueteacup · 15/04/2018 20:43

OP, thank you for posting this. It is reassuring to see that other people have the same worries as me. I've been really getting myself worked up because I spend a lot of time gardening. Being in the garden helps with my anxiety, but then I convince myself I'm harming my baby. I wear gloves and wash my hands, but was definitely still feeling worried. I asked my midwife about it, and asked if it was possible to get tested for immunity. She was dismissive and told me if I was that worried, I should stop gardening. Did you all get blood tests through the NHS or did you need to arrange it privately?

Pinkponiesrock · 15/04/2018 20:44

I’m a farmer, who’s been pregnant during lambing twice and even though I have no Toxo immunity both my babies are fine.

As long as the lambs are dry and there is no birth fluids/membranes then there is no risk.

The majority of sheep don’t have Toxo, we do our very best to keep it out of our flocks as it’s not good for the sheep either. We vaccinate against Toxoplasmosis as it can have a devastating effect on your lambing numbers.

Pinkponiesrock · 15/04/2018 20:47

I got a blood test through the NHS as I was as high risk as you can get but despite working at the business end of lambing I have no immunity.

I know Vets who must be exposed to the viruses during their careers who don’t have immunity either.

I think you have to have contracted Toxo previously to be immune.

Scrowy · 15/04/2018 21:17

littleblueteacup I just requested it as part of my booking bloods each time. The midwife didn't have an issue with it but it's a very rural midwifery team so they are probably more familiar with it and why people would request it.

Do you have a particular problem with cats using your garden teacup? It's mainly young male cats that are the issue.

Littleblueteacup · 15/04/2018 21:46

@Scrowy There is one cat in particular, who is determined to poo everywhere. His family moved into our street last year, and none of the usual cat deterrents work (water bottles, ultrasonic thingies, spraying with water, my dogs being in the garden). He's deaf, and the boldest creature I've ever seen. I squirted him with water the other day to stop him stalking my bird feeder and he calmly walked off and vengeance pooed in my flower bed, while making eye contact with me. I'm going to ask my midwife for the blood test again. I've been gardening all my life, and from what I've read, if I've already had toxoplasmosis there's no further risk to the baby (is that right?). So if I've had it, I don't need to worry. And if I haven't already had it by now, despite the poo campaign from neighbour cat, I should try to relax too. It's the not knowing that is scaring me.

Original poster
Monty19 · 15/04/2018 22:10

Thankyou @pinkponiesrock and I love your name too! 😁

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