Toxoplasmosis fear

[Optimistic2021]

Hi, just looking for some advice/help stop me from stressing!

I was googling toxoplasmosis last night 🙈 and it popped into my head that my dog who is raw fed could be a risk. I'm worrying that he could have licked my hand and I've then touched my mouth without thinking and passed it to baby or passed it to baby by picking up his toys and not washing my hands. We wash his bowls seperately but use the same sponge for our dishes (I've never even thought about this until now and I'm so angry at myself for doing this and not thinking about potential risks from the very start!).

I also have a cat but haven't touched his litter tray since becoming pregnant and always wash my hands after feeding them.

I'm 30 weeks pregnant so probably a bit late to be worrying but it's in my head and I can't help but stress and worry about it. I phoned the midwife and they didn't seem concerned, just said to wash hands after picking up poo and wash dishes separately.

Am I stressing unnecessarily or should I be asking for a blood test to check!?

Thanks 😊

I think you’re fine, I had this terror over rare steak at about 30 weeks and was basically told it’s incredibly rare unless you are literally in direct contact. It’s so difficult not to worry but the chances are minuscule!

I wouldn't stress, I had similar concerns when pregnant and when I looked into it it said if you have lived in a home with pets for a while it is likely you've already been exposed to this multiple times without knowing. It's apparently only if the first time you are infected is when you are pregnant it is a risk to foetus.

My dog is fed some raw also, not worried about this at all, I'm 3rd trimester also. Toxoplasmosis is very rare, and when I was looking into it, one of the biggest sources is unwashed fruit and veg, and salads that haven't been prepared properly. I just make sure I wash my hands after touching his food (I'm veggie, so prob just because I find it gross to touch also). Wouldn't worry about the bowls and sponge either - I'm assuming you use the same sponge to wash chopping boards or plates that have had raw meat on them? Very hot water and washing up liquid will kill those germs.

With cat litter as well, the risk is really primarily for juvenile cats that have just started hunting. This is when they're most likely to catch it and shed in their litter tray. And if you clean it out every 24 hours, there's hardly any risk. It's more in litter that's left around for ages.

I can be a massive hypochondriac, and was freaking out about some out of date uncooked mozzarella someone served me early on in pregnancy - it's when I fell down a black hole of research on listeriosis and toxoplasmosis.

I doubt very much that you’ve caught it in pregnancy - not least because chances are that already had it long before then, and it’s harmless if you’re not pregnant. Between 1/4 and 1/3 if people in UK have it (so says HSE) and it must be higher for cat and dog owners.