Toxiplasmosis, OCD and help!

[From123]

I’m right near the end of my last trimester, a few weeks to go and cleaning every single day.

i have two indoor cats, the one has gone out twice on a run about but only for a few hours. Anyway, I’m getting stressed out, I’m finding litter dust (wooden one) everywhere, on the stair case they jump on the sofa, it tracks there, I just went in my room where they’re not allowed and found some more, I’m convincing myself that any little bit of whatever I find is litter…

I am having to constantly clean when I want to relax. I hoover multiple times a day and the sofa. I’ve started showering almost 3 times a day after cooking/ cleaning paranoid I’ve germs. I’m terrified of litter getting in my mouth… I wasn’t like this pre pregnancy. Someone pregnant with cats, please give me some advise or words of wisdom…. Stressed!

I think you should speak to your midwife about this and see what support they can offer.

My uneducated take on toxiplasmosis is you would need to touch actual faeces, and then ingest whats on your hands. Being in contact with litter doesnt seem a huge risk, especially if you practice good hygeine standards.

Seems to me you are manifesting stress about the pregnancy into the things you can control. Can you find more productive ways to direct this nervous energy? Wash the baby clothes. Batch cook. Put together playlists of soothing baby songs/white noise.

But honestly, your midwife can help you more than mumsnet. You dont need to wait for your next appointment. Call them and explain whats going on just like you did here.

There’s a higher risk of getting it from soil on your hands than from cat poo, and as pp said you’d need to be in direct contact with faeces from an infected cat which in mainly indoor cats is unlikely anyway. It’s also least dangerous to baby in the third trimester

If you’re nearly at full term it’s the very least dangerous time to contract toxoplasmosis, op.
Even if what you’re doing constituted a risk, which I doubt.

I agree third trimester less risky as baby’s organs are developed. But the surgery can test your blood to reassure you you haven’t contracted it ( and they can also tell you if you’re already immune from ages ago eg from when you were a child)
Reassure yourself too that there are SO many cats around… the problem would be far more common
i also think there’s more risk in eating undercooked meat.
Good luck and try to enjoy this part of your pregnancy

Most toxoplasmosis is from soil and food. Cats would need to be hunting, so outside in a run is fine. Also if any oocytes are shed they don't become contagious until they've sat for 24 hours or more. You aren't at risk.

I would speak to your midwife about help with anxiety though if you haven't already, as that sounds pretty severe. If you could afford some private CBT therapy in the meantime that could be really helpful. I'm really sorry you're struggling. Pregnancy is such a hormonally challenging time, please get some help before the birth.

Tonight is a perfect example.

I’ve gone to toilet, saw something black on the floor, picked it up with tissue because I told husband it might be poo but I didn’t think it was so asked him to do it but he was busy so rather than me going to bed thinking of it reappearing in our room etc I just got tissue and picked it up. It was rock hard in my hand and smaller than 5p. I didn’t think it was poo but I looked at it mro and can’t think what else it could be, my only explanation could be plastic off husbands slippers.. it had fluff on it and the trays were changed this morning so no old poo around. I put it down it down the toilet and flushed washed my hands with anti bac soap several times and then used hand sanitizer twice but I still feel dirty like it’s on me. I’ve asked for help and do speak to my midwife but I’m just petrified of making my baby Ill with toxiplasmosis

If you had cats much of your life, and the cats hunt birds, then you probably had toxop ages ago. Birds are the actual reservoir afaik. so if you ever handle soil, touch dead birds, ate items still with soil on them, interacted with feces of hunting cats... or drank raw milk. You very likely had it long ago & can't get it again.

(I literally tick yes box on all those, can you tell)

xpost. You're describing an anxiety disorder, OP. That anxiety is the only definite health threat to you & your baby right now. Don't feel bad. It's because of your hormones. But it's your responsibility to tell the midwives so they can help your head get sensible again. So you have one job now, which is to tell the MWs all this stuff happening in your head.

I'm a CBT therapist OP. Please speak to your midwife and get her to refer you to the perinatal mental health team. You should be prioritised for support,l. Really important to tackle this now as it may escalate post partum. Don't worry your anxiety can be managed.