Contact with mice in pregnancy

[squeeky]

OK, I am freaking out here..

Since the start of the cold weather we have had a rodent problem - we live in a rural area and the field mice tend to come into the house when it gets chilly. We deal with them using traps and generally cleaning up but it's impossible to keep them out completely.

Anyway... I made the mistake of googling "contact with mice during pregnancy" and have scared myself silly. Apparently mice carry a virus that can cause serious congenital problems similar to toxoplasmosis. In the USA they recommend you get rid of your pet mice during your pregnancy and don't go near wild mice or their droppings etc - it seems that vacuuming up the droppings is the main way to contract the virus as it stirs up the dust and you can inhale infected particles (see - at least I have done my research!).

Of course I am beside myself with worry. I am convinced I have seriously harmed my baby and will have to live with the consequences.

Anyone else heard of this? Anyone lived with rodents and managed to have a healthy pregnancy?

My GP said not to worry as the risk is very low. She suggested counselling but maybe she's right

As far as I know, as long as you aren't handling their piss and poo on a daily basis you should be okay!

You can catch toxoplasmosis from cats and from soil and I haven't heard of people avoiding these two things that much, so please try not to worry about the mice.

It's good you're trying to get rid of them, and keep the house clean and tidy. That seems like the best way to keep yourself and your baby safe.

Please try not to worry, although I know that's easier said than done.

Thanks TLC. I'm calming down a bit now and being more careful - DH and his lovely mum (who is staying with us), are now doing all the dirty work. I have a scan in a few weeks time that will hopefully be reassuring.

squeeky We have the same problem here and I am at my wits end, but I hadn't googled the risks before. Yikes - they run all over the house, jump up on tables and sofas, and I am tormented by it. I have seen them jump over the traps the little bastards.

You have convinced me to phone Rentokil today and book them in. They quoted £179 to do a full 8 weeks eradication programme and find the entry source and seal it up. I'm going to do it (perhaps that what my health in pregnancy grant will be spent on?).

And by the way, yes you are supposed to avoid all contact with soil if there are cats in the neighbourhood! I thought the advice was very clear on this, ie. wear gloves if you are gardening, and never clean cat litter yourself.

Pony - yuck, but at least I know I'm not alone.

We are lucky in the sense that they seem to come in one or two at a time and we can deal with them overnight - we set traps every night and DH clears them up.

Rentokil would probably have to nuke the field behind our house to deal with them properly but if we get many more I might give them a call - £179 probably worth it for peace of mind.

I am pregnant too, and we have the occasional mouse. Got two in a single trap the other day -- they must've leaned in for a sniff of bait at the same time. Bit gruesome. I let DP handle it, even when not pg!

Try not to worry too much. When you think about the prevalence of mice in homes everywhere since long before our time, you can sort of put it in perspective ... after all we don't tend to hear about a lot of serious abnormalities down the years, ascribed to living with house mice. If it was a big risk there would be absolutely loads of these cases from our grandparents' and parents' generation.

In the USA they like to err on the side of caution with their pregnancy advice -- eg god forbid you should touch a cup of tea, eat some feta or look at a cat across a crowded room. Or give birth any way other than on yer back strapped to a monitor! Don't give 'em too much headspace

Hi all I realise this is a really old thread but I am going insane with worry over the same thing right now. I am sick with worry lack of sleep etc etc.

If anyone on the original thread reads this could you please let me know of any outcomes

Mummytono2,
I sent you a personal message. Let me know what you think about ths issue. I too, am going slightly crazy worrying about it!
Take care, Sammie

Hi, I've had / got some pesky mice, took me a while to realise they were in the house, they've been resident most of the winter and aren't showing signs of leaving. My twins are now 5 1/2 wks old and no problems from the mice.

slightlyinsane,
Great name by the way! Did you have to clean up their poo while you were pregnant? Were you aware of the potential issues or did you just go about your business as usual? Google is the devil! Oh, and congrats on your twins...that is wonderful!
Take care, Sam

Thanks, although I don't think there's anything slightly about it these days.

Yeah I did clean it up. Slept on the sofa they'd been running all over too :-! love living in the country side :-( I new the potential risks, but as it was pg no4 I was a heck of a lot more relaxed about things (apart from it being twins) than I maybe would have been if it was my 1st

Thanks for posting again so soon lady. Not that I am glad you slept on the 'mouse' sofa, but your story does make me feel better. I noticed mouse poo in the garage yesterday and didn't touch anything, but still googled it and lost my mind. For some reason I then checked behind the the couch I sit on in the basement to watch tv and found some more and truly had a meltdown cos i fold the laundry on the floor and what-not. I couldnt find anymore around the basement, just under the sofa, but enough to go mental. I am booked in for a doc's appointment day after tomorrow to see if I have the LCMV anti-bodies or whatever and will take it from there. No doubt I am over-reacting but it just stuck in my mind and I am now a bit more than 'slightlyinsane'!
Will let you know how it all goes! Thanks again, Sam

I know this is an old post but any updates??? I’m going through the same thing and I’m freaking out