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Pregnancy

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

Thread worms and pregnant

13 replies

bluemarie87 · 01/12/2019 19:53

I am really embarrassed but I have somehow managed to get threadworms for the first time in my life. I am 35 weeks pregnant and google says I can't take anything but I'm worried and don't know what to do. I will ring the pharmacy in the morning. Does anyone have any advice pls?

OP posts:
DCIRozHuntley · 01/12/2019 19:56

Just follow the hygiene precautions like hot washing bedding, hand washing and throw away any playdoh / kinetic sand if you have kids or work in a nursery.

Don't feel embarrassed - apparently around 40% of children have them at any time (according to NHS) so you're not alone.

MrsBertBibby · 01/12/2019 19:57

Wash all your sheets, towels, and PJs as hit as you can. Keep doing it. Rigid rigid hygiene.

Don't be embarrassed, it happens!

bluemarie87 · 05/12/2019 20:57

So I've done everything suggested and requested but the gp won't prescribe me anything. They are driving me mad. They itch so badly. They are making me feel so dirty. I am washing my hands umpteen times a day. It freaks me out to see them wriggling around. Google says they last 5-6 weeks but does anyone know if that's from being in the gut as I'm due in 5 weeks and only noticed these peaty things Sunday!

OP posts:
littlecabbage · 05/12/2019 21:08

I believe the 5-6 weeks thing is how long they live in the gut after they hatch from their eggs. The critical thing is to prevent yourself ingesting any eggs, otherwise the cycle will continue.

You probably already know this, but they lay eggs outside the body (i.e. around the anus and vulva). This is in a mucus which is very itchy, to encourage you to scratch and get the eggs under your fingernails, and then ingest them.

So you need to shower thoroughly every morning to remove eggs. Wash your hands regularly, esp after using toilet and before eating. Change towels and bedding daily if possible. Lots of vacuuming to pick up stray eggs. And wear big pants at night, plus leggings or PJ trousers to limit spread on eggs.

Sorry you’ve got them. I’ve had them before and they are horrible buggers. One thing that gave me relief whilst I was waiting for medication to work, was slathering loads of vaseline around my downstairs area before bed each night. This stops them being able to wriggle around, and helps you get some sleep. You will get through lots of pots of vaseline in a 6 week period, but worth it I think! Just be careful not to put your hand back in the tub after touching yourself, as you don’t want to put eggs back in the pot. Wash your hands first, then take out a big lump, and use that. Obvs chuck any half used pots away at the end of the problem.

bluemarie87 · 05/12/2019 21:14

Thanks for the reply. I have read umpteen pages on threadworms that I feel an expert and I've been doing all the above. The doctor wouldn't give me medication but gave me some anti itching cream, which like you say is pretty much Vaseline. They are just the most unpleasant things ever. The fact I can't take medication means I can't kill them at the source. Do you know that if they are now wriggling our of my anus that that's nearing the end of their life cycle (unless I invest more eggs obviously) x

OP posts:
MooseBeTimeForSummer · 05/12/2019 21:21

I believe that’s the females emerging to lay their eggs

PammieDooveOrangeJoof · 05/12/2019 21:27

Can you eat pumpkin seeds? I’m not sure how try this is but heard that they contain a protein that the worms don’t like.. we had them in our house for the first time some weeks ago so I feel your pain. I’m so sorry you can’t take anything, I wanted to burn the whole house down!
Just made sure we washed everything and cleaned the house too to bottom, hoovered etc. Kept washing bedding and towels and hands. Cut all nails short and wiped all door handles etc etc.

PastTippingPoint · 05/12/2019 21:29

Oh poor you, I remember having them as a kid and it was miserable.

Might be worth showing this to your GP if you can't shift them:
www.medicinesinpregnancy.org/Medicine--pregnancy/Treatment-of-threadworms-during-pregnancy/
I know of pregnant women being prescribed treatment by the GP, so some do.

champagneandfromage50 · 05/12/2019 21:29

I got them when I was pregnant too. Truly awful. However I cleaned my bottom regularly and got my finger right in there to try and get rid of the eggs. Cleaned towels, bedding and underwear regularly, I did get rid of mine with regular cleaning but it was awful...

littlecabbage · 05/12/2019 21:41

However I cleaned my bottom regularly and got my finger right in there to try and get rid of the eggs.

I wouldn't do this - more likely to get eggs under your fingernails. Also, the females come out of the anus to lay eggs, so the eggs are generally on the perineal skin, not inside the rectum.

To answer your question OP, the worms exiting your anus are just coming out to lay - doesn't indicate how close to end of lifecycle they are, sorry.

Are you slathering loads of that cream on? I used a very thick layer of vaseline over my anus to prevent the worms exiting, and spread it all around my perineum and vulva to trap any persistent ones that did manage to exit, and to prevent them reaching my vagina and urethra.

Good luck OP.

champagneandfromage50 · 05/12/2019 21:47

littlecabbage worked for me and being pregnant and having worms was horrendous,

littlecabbage · 05/12/2019 21:49

Okay, glad it worked for you.

teenageanxy · 05/12/2019 21:57

No advice to add but plenty of sympathy. Worms suck big time.

Try not to google there are a lot of crazy people who believe that you can never get rid.

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