Completely freaking out about toxoplasmosis

[brownpaperbag1]

I started a thread about this the other day but am posting again because I’m having major anxiety about it. I can’t stop freaking out that I’ve caught toxoplasmosis and that my baby will be brain damaged or blind.

My cat is quite a hunter and regularly (like once a month) ends up with a bit of matted poo on the hair around his bum (he’s long haired and a bit of a scruff). Since I’ve been pregnant I’ve been using rubber gloves and a brush to remove it then throwing away the gloves and disinfecting the brush. Before I was pregnant I didn’t bother with the gloves.

However, I’m terrified that I’ve now caught toxoplasmosis from him licking his bum then me stroking his fur. He’s also sat on my lap and the sofa before with a dirty bum without me noticing straightaway. I also kissed him regularly until I read up on the risks. He comes up and sleeps on the bed a lot too and has been on the pillows before.

In addition I ate a burger a few weeks ago that was red in the middle, again not realising at the time that this could cause toxoplasmosis.

It’s too late to have a blood test done at my booking in appointment with the midwife, as that’s been and gone. Someone on the previous thread mentioned I could ask the hospital at my 12 week scan, but that’s not for another 3.5 weeks! I’m also guessing there’s a high chance they’ll say no as the chances of catching it are apparently so small.

Sorry to post again about this - I’m honestly just terrified that I’ve almost certainly caught it

I've got 4 cats and they were my fur babies before the actual baby came along

Changes are you contracted or years ago and so are immune

It's most easily contracted through handling the litter so as long as you haven't been handling litter with bare hands and not washing them properly afterwards I really think you'll be fine x

I should have also said my cats are very affectionate and also slept in the bed with us for years before and during pregnancy as well as having a stray Tom cat move in with us for a few months x

I get this OP. My cat had worms when I was 5 months pg and deposited one on the bed! I freaked, and went to Dr who did a blood test, so you can do it independently of other pg routines if you have a sympathetic GP. Having said that, chances are v slim so please try not to worry.

Sorry, chances you have contracted toxoplasmosis are v slim.

Thanks for the replies. I honestly feel almost resigned to the fact that I’ve got it. I’m terrified to be honest - it’s really getting me down.

brownpaperbag1 is there a reason you think you've recently contracted it? Chances are you have had it pre-pregnancy, the symptoms are really mild in adults. This is a GOOD thing! Once you've had it, it can't harm baby.

is there a reason you think you've recently contracted it? Chances are you have had it pre-pregnancy, the symptoms are really mild in adults. This is a GOOD thing! Once you've had it, it can't harm baby.

Just because of all the reasons in my OP really Of course the cat/eating red meat were there before I got pregnant too, but now I’m just really on edge about it!

A family member had a still birth due to it. It was through eating meat with blood it, but it wasn't a off one burger, it was repeatedly. I still think the chances of you having it are slim but discuss your worries with the midwife.

A family member had a still birth due to it. It was through eating meat with blood it, but it wasn't a off one burger, it was repeatedly.

That’s terrible

You’d have thought that if they were big red meat eaters, they’d have had it before and would have become immune?

I really think there ought to be routine testing for pregnant women in this country as there is abroad, as the consequences of getting it are so severe.

The fact that my midwife/hospital might not agree to test is stressing me out even more!

I might book an appointment here to put my mind at rest: www.nuffieldhealth.com/clinics/wharf-medical-centre/on-site-pathology-blood-tests