But if you get toxoplasmosis for the first time while you're pregnant, or a few months before you conceive, there's a small risk the infection could cause:. The chances of getting toxoplasmosis for the first time during pregnancy are thought to be very small. Even if you do become infected for the first time during pregnancy, this doesn't necessarily mean your baby is in danger. In many cases the infection doesn't spread to the baby.
If you get toxoplasmosis for the first time during pregnancy, the risk to your child largely depends on when you were infected:. Our family has a cat. Do I need to avoid gardening or other yard work to prevent exposure to infected soil? What else can I do to prevent infection?
Is there any way to avoid passing it on to my baby? What steps can we take if my baby does get infected? What treatment s do you recommend, and why? Are there any potential side effects from treatment? Frequently asked questions FAQ about congenital toxoplasmosis What is toxoplasmosis? Why is toxoplasmosis a problem? What can I do to prevent infection? Our family has pet cats. Do we have to get rid of them to be safe from toxoplasmosis? You can keep your cat while taking these steps to prevent toxoplasmosis infection: Keep cats indoors.
Have another family member take care of cleaning the litter box and disposing of cat waste. If you must handle litter box duties yourself, always wear disposable gloves and be sure to wash your hands thoroughly afterward. What are the chances that my baby will be infected if I am? It depends on when you are infected. If you do, you may have painless swollen lymph glands and other generally mild symptoms, like muscle aches, fatigue, headache, fever, and possibly a sore throat or a rash.
Without testing, you probably won't know you've been infected. Only rarely do more serious symptoms arise in otherwise healthy people. Sometimes toxoplasmosis is suspected when certain fetal abnormalities are picked up during a prenatal ultrasound , though most infected babies appear normal. Because the rate of infections are low and results are not always reliable, The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists ACOG doesn't recommend screening pregnant women, with the exception of those who are HIV-positive or when infection is suspected.
Talk about the pros and cons of testing with your doctor or midwife, and together you can make a decision that's right for you.
And be sure to call your caregiver if you have swollen glands or other reasons to suspect you've been infected. If it seems as though you might be infected, your blood will be tested to measure your levels of two antibodies.
Depending on the results, you may need to be tested again in two to three weeks and have your blood sent to a toxoplasmosis "reference lab.
If test results suggest that you have toxoplasmosis during pregnancy, your practitioner may treat you with an antibiotic to help reduce your baby's risk of neurological problems from the infection. The antibiotic chosen will depend on how far along you are in your pregnancy; one is given before 14 weeks and a combination of another two is given at or after 14 weeks.
Antibiotic treatment to prevent transmission of the infection to the baby has not been proven successful. Since not all maternal infections are transmitted to the baby, you may have an amniocentesis to determine whether your baby also has the infection.
The lab will do a special DNA test on your amniotic fluid to check for the presence of the parasite. You'll also have a series of ultrasounds throughout your pregnancy to look for abnormalities in your developing baby.
If your amniotic fluid shows that your baby has been infected or an ultrasound shows a problem, you'll probably be referred to a maternal-fetal medicine specialist for care.
You may also want to talk to a genetic counselor about the risks to your baby. Depending on your baby's gestational age, you'll be given the option to end the pregnancy. If your baby tests positive for toxoplasmosis at birth, they'll be treated with antibiotics for about a year, even if they have no symptoms.
If your baby shows symptoms of toxoplasmosis, the provider may treat your baby with antibiotics. Your baby may continue these antibiotic treatments until their first birthday, sometimes even longer. Your provider can give you a blood test to find out if you are still infected. If you are healthy and no longer infected, the chances of giving your baby toxoplasmosis while nursing is very small.
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