Hello, thought maybe some of the medical types could make me feel less anxious about this. I have outdoor cats, who sometimes use the litter box in the garage. I clean the litter box about every 2-3 months because the cats don’t often use it (only when it’s cold and we let them sleep in the garage). I just cleaned it out today then plopped down to look at pre-pregnancy websites and I was shocked to find out that cleaning a litter box poses a risk to an unborn child. :eek: :eek: :eek:
The question is, I’m not pregnant yet, but I’m getting artificially inseminated (if everything goes well) on Monday; if I caught toxoplasmosis today, could the potential child that might be conceived on Monday be harmed? Or is it only if you obtain the infection during the pregnancy?
I have cared for feral and barn cats for decades. I grew up on a farm that was rife with cats. I even had a cat and cleaned her litter box when I was pregnant for my daughter (!). Chances are, I’ve already caught this malady and never knew it. However, I really do want to know what risks there are if I caught it a few days prior to becoming (hopefully) pregnant. Anybody know an answer or more info? Thanks!
I’d not really worry too much… This Page should give you all the real details if you’re interested… If you’re really concerned with having caught it, give your doctor a call for the test.
As with most sickness causing bugs, washing your hands is the best prevention, but now I’m just repeating the info on the link above.
We’ve 3 cats, and all went out side for most of my wife’s pregnancy (3 weeks to go), and she’s fine… YMMV.
-Butler
Toxoplasma gondii is a protozoan parasite. Acute infections may present with fever and often go unrecognized. Risk of fetal infection is about 1:8000, with disease transmitted to the fetus in one-half of women who acquire the infection while pregnant. Risk to the fetus is not uniform during pregnancy – infection early in the pregnancy has the worst consequences – potentially these include change in head size, swelling of the heart or liver and skin and eye problems. One study shows treating mothers who acquired toxoplasmosis with spiramycin during the first 16 weeks of pregnancy limited infection to fetuses to only 3.7%. (Infectious Disease Secrets, Robert Gates MD).
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statistically, the chance you have acute toxoplasmosis is still low
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if you genuinely believe you have caught toxoplasmosis in the past, see a doctor and get tested before proceeding with insemination
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discuss this with your gynecologist prior to the procedure
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not to clean the cat litter box during the course of your pregnancy
** take any internet advice with several grains of salt; I am not an obstetrician. I do not know your history or circumstances.
