CMV

[RGM5]

Hello! I’m 27 weeks pregnant and have been worried about CMV this entire pregnancy. I don’t have antibodies. Does anyone know if it can be spread via a small surface level cut on your hand? I have one on my finger that I can’t easily cover up and travel daily and work in a shared office (no kids). My midwife said no but Google offers mixed advice. I’m thinking if salvia etc got into the cut

This seems a little out of proportion anxiety…is there another reason for that? Have you had a bad experience with CMV before, or background of anxiety?

Anyway if it helps, there are only really shown to be severe consequences from CMV if it is passed to baby at <12-14 weeks of pregnancy so you are well clear of that. All the best.

Thank you! No bad experience I was just tested at around 24 weeks and was negative and haven’t had it in the past so since then I have been worried (I wish I hadn’t known about it to be honest!). I was just looking for some research on whether cuts are a source of infection as there’s a lot of conflicting information online. I am also visiting nurseries currently but will just keep practice good hand washing etc. Good to know about the timings!

What is a cmv negative and a cmv positive couple have a baby? Would it then pass to the baby? How would anyone know this? I don't think its a test people generally do?

No it doesn’t work like this, not transmissible from the parents through sperm/egg/etc. it’s an infection that can pass across the placenta if Mum has an infection, can have severe consequences for baby in some cases but generally only if mum’s infection happens in the first trimester or just before conceiving.
Not a routine test in a lot of countries, I think France has just introduced routine screening for this in first trimester though.

Thank you! Do you have any links to source re first trimester? I’ve seen the same but have seen it can have bad effects throughout pregnancy

This may help
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32105678/
lots of papers around, can’t dig them all out right now. there are probably national guidelines if you google. my knowledge is from lots of experience/ studying various published papers/conferences etc.

Bad effects that are picked up later in pregnancy are generally subsequent to infection early on eg it’s possible to have a brain abnormality or bright bowel only seen at 20 week scan or after, but actually the infection has occurred in first trimester if that makes sense. There can be some milder effects from later infection but essentially no long term consequence.

if wanting academic type detail the French group under Yves Ville, I think working out of Necker in Paris, have a lot of work on this so any paper by Ville et al can have useful information.

Thank you very helpful! Appreciate it.