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Original poster

Can my children visit a lambing farm when I’m pregnant?

46 replies

E19897 · 29/03/2023 18:34

I am 36.5 weeks pregnant and my in laws have very kindly said they are going to take my other children to a farm this weekend (lambing, feeding goats etc). I’m really worried about it and scared I will catch listeriosis (or another bug) from when they get home.

Would it be completely unreasonable to ask them to do something else? Or suggest they go to the farm but don’t feet the sheep or goats?

Thank you in advance. I can see lots of advice about visiting the farm as a pregnant woman but not about their children going.

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Markasread · 29/03/2023 18:36

It's up to you and no point your being anxious. But I would kindly point out that many, many farmers are women of child bearing age.

parietal · 29/03/2023 18:37

wouldn't occur to me to worry about this. if the kids wash their hand when they get home, all will be fine.

AlltheFs · 29/03/2023 18:39

If you all avoid licking sheep placentas you’ll be fine.

Feliciacat · 29/03/2023 18:39

According to that link a PP posted; it could be a risk if they don’t wear PPE. I suppose you could get them to wear that and wash their hands, change clothes and shower when they get home. That’s what I’d do. It may be easier to just do something else tbh.

Stepuptowardsinfinity · 29/03/2023 18:42

AlltheFs · 29/03/2023 18:39

If you all avoid licking sheep placentas you’ll be fine.

This. You are being ridiculous.

purplepencilcase · 29/03/2023 18:54

I lost a baby after helping lambing. Only 12 weeks but it was extremely upsetting. We are farmers. Confirmed toxoplasmosis.

I was always extremely careful after that with the following pregnancies.
It's your decision and you must decide what you feel safe with.

QuackMooBaaOink · 29/03/2023 19:16

Stepuptowardsinfinity · 29/03/2023 18:42

This. You are being ridiculous.

Show quote history

Wow. How rude.
Not ridiculous at all.
You have no idea of this woman's circumstances, age, how long it took to conceive, any prior losses, any anxiety. To bluntly label someone "ridiculous" for what is a genuine and valid concern is rude and unhelpful.
OP. My advice is to follow your own gut, because YOU are the one who has to live with the consequences. The risk might be low, but there is a risk which is why pregnant women are advised to avoid it. If you are uncomfortable with it, that is ok and there is nothing wrong with suggesting something different. But don't let yourself be coerced into doing something you are not happy with, as even heightened anxiety for you is not what you need in the last 3 weeks of pregnancy! Sending best wishes for your new baby :)

liveforsummer · 29/03/2023 19:18

Ask mil to wash their hands and change their clothes so they can enjoy the experience

BigglyBee · 29/03/2023 19:24

purplepencilcase · 29/03/2023 18:54

I lost a baby after helping lambing. Only 12 weeks but it was extremely upsetting. We are farmers. Confirmed toxoplasmosis.

I was always extremely careful after that with the following pregnancies.
It's your decision and you must decide what you feel safe with.

Same here. Every so often we get leaflets in the post about enzootic abortion of ewes and toxoplasmosis, along with pictures of the Disgusting Sheep Disease Of The Week. It's a genuine risk.

When you are so close to the end of your pregnancy, it won't harm anyone to wait a couple of weeks, the lambs will still be there. Our lambing hasn't even started yet.

Flittingaboutagain · 29/03/2023 19:30

I told my family my toddler couldn't go. Any other year. It's not worth the risk op.

flipflop00 · 29/03/2023 19:37

I would also avoid it, my friends husband is a sheep farmer and although she wasn't going to the farm herself she suffered many miscarriages. I'm not sure it was confirmed but I always wondered about the link x

BigglyBee · 29/03/2023 19:38

Markasread · 29/03/2023 18:36

It's up to you and no point your being anxious. But I would kindly point out that many, many farmers are women of child bearing age.

And many, many of those women avoid lambing if they are pregnant or likely to become pregnant. If it isn't possible to avoid the risk, then you just have to take what precautions you can. But OP can remove the risk very easily.

roundcork · 29/03/2023 19:39

This reply has been withdrawn

This has been withdrawn by MNHQ at the request of the user.

Bumble84 · 29/03/2023 19:42

My DH was quite against taking our toddler when I was pregnant. I would have went and taken precautions and washing hands etc but it wasn’t worth worrying my husband over something that was easy to avoid. We just didn’t go that time. I don’t see anything wrong with not wanting them to go on this occasion tbh.

Sapphire387 · 29/03/2023 19:53

It sounds like you'll only worry about it so it's probably best not to let them go. I'd feel the same way.

Nik44 · 29/03/2023 20:03

I never even considered this as a concern. My daughter is going to a farm in June with school and will staying the night. I suppose as long as all her clothes are washed and she showers as soon as she’s home the risk is small? I will be 29 weeks.

drpet49 · 29/03/2023 20:08

I wouldn’t risk it whatsoever.

Ratatouille1 · 29/03/2023 20:13

There was a lambing event at a farm near us, it said pregnant women shouldn't enter the lambing shed.

AlltheFs · 29/03/2023 20:15

Nik44 · 29/03/2023 20:03

I never even considered this as a concern. My daughter is going to a farm in June with school and will staying the night. I suppose as long as all her clothes are washed and she showers as soon as she’s home the risk is small? I will be 29 weeks.

You really should be fine.

I kept away from the lambs and didn’t do any lambing when I was pregnant but other people in my household couldn’t. We just practiced normal good hygiene.

I can’t see there’s any risk from children visiting. They aren’t going to be pulling out lambs or getting covered in fluids then coming home.

isitaline97 · 29/03/2023 21:59

Just ensure your children wash their hands thoroughly afterwards, and ideally ask someone else to take care of washing their clothing with disinfectant in the washing machine. Ideally send them in wellies (probs wise anyway on a farm) that can be easily cleaned.

CaptainMyCaptain · 29/03/2023 22:09

Ratatouille1 · 29/03/2023 20:13

There was a lambing event at a farm near us, it said pregnant women shouldn't enter the lambing shed.

I used to be a guide on farm tours and we had strict health and safety rules and risk assessments. Pregnant women were advised to wait outside the lambing shed but their children could go in.

Farmersweeklyreader · 29/03/2023 22:18

I would suggest asking your in-laws to bathe the kids at their house and a fresh lot of clothes on before they are returned to your house. Also ask the in laws to launder the clothes the kids wore to the farm for you.
I wouldn’t be taking any risks at all, we are farmers who are currently lambing. I’m currently third trimester and I’m staying away from all livestock/housing. Husband is sleeping elsewhere while he is lambing. The risks are too high. We know people in the farming community who have miscarried & lost babies at full term due to toxo.

Nik44 · 30/03/2023 07:37

Thankyou at @AlltheFs

Im glad this topic came up because it’s not something I even thought about. I think to be safe I’ll ask my parents to take her home to get cleaned up and clothes washed before she comes home to me. I can’t stop her going as it’s her first residential and she’s so been looking forward to it.

OrlandointheWilderness · 30/03/2023 08:01

I wouldn't personally. It carries very real risk.