(no subject)
I was reading an article somewhere about cats, and the article said something like: toxoplasmosis, which can cause fetal defects in the first trimester of pregnancy,... (I wish I had the article...)
I know there are some things that aren't good to have at certain points in a pregnancy, that just get "banned" outright because it's easier to do that than to figure out the specific timing for each substance, but is this one of them? Is toxoplasmosis only a problem in the first trimester? Can I go back to eating my rare steaks now?
ETA: Ah ha! A bit of Googling has resulted in this link: http://yourtotalhealth.ivillage.com/toxoplasmosis-pregnancy-risk.html
At the bottom of the third page, it outlines the risks by trimester. So... It looks like I'll be cooking my steaks a little past what I prefer for the duration...
"In general, there is no increased risk to the fetus if the mother has toxoplasmosis more than six months prior to conception, according to the American Academy of Family Physicians. The fetus is not at risk for contracting toxoplasmosis from the mother if she has had the disease in the past unless her immune system becomes compromised (e.g., through HIV infection).
However, if a woman is pregnant or planning to conceive and believes she may have come into contact with Toxoplasma parasites, it is important that she consult a physician about testing for the disease. In cases where mothers become infected with toxoplasmosis, treatment may reduce the risk to the unborn baby.
The likelihood of transmitting the parasite depends on the stage of pregnancy. A large analysis of studies found there was a 15 percent of chance of transmission when the mother contracted the parasite at 13 weeks; a 44 percent chance at 25 weeks; and a 71 percent chance at 36 weeks. Although transmission is more common later in pregnancy, it is more potentially damaging earlier in pregnancy:
*First trimester. Infections occurring during the first trimester often end in miscarriage or stillbirth. Babies who survive are usually born with serious problems, such as:
o Severe neurological impairments, such as mental retardation.
o Cerebral palsy.
o Hydrocephalus. A condition in which excess accumulation in the brain of the fluid surrounding the brain and spinal cord (cerebrospinal fluid) causes the head to become enlarged.
o Seizures.
o Severe eye infections and loss of vision.
o Enlarged liver and spleen.
o Yellowing of the skin and the whites of the eyes (jaundice).
* Second trimester. Congenital toxoplasmosis acquired by the fetus during the second trimester is more common, but generally less severe than earlier in pregnancy. Miscarriage and stillbirth are less common. These babies may still have neurological and other problems, but usually to a lesser degree. They are less likely to show symptoms at birth.
* Third trimester. The infection is most likely to occur late in pregnancy but is least dangerous at this point. Miscarriage and stillbirth are uncommon. Few of these babies have symptoms at birth though problems may still develop later in life.
According to the National Institutes of Health, up to 90 percent of newborns with congenital toxoplasmosis have no symptoms at birth, but 55 to 85 percent develop problems months or years later. These may include:
* Learning disabilities
* Hearing loss
* Eye infections that can impair vision"
I know there are some things that aren't good to have at certain points in a pregnancy, that just get "banned" outright because it's easier to do that than to figure out the specific timing for each substance, but is this one of them? Is toxoplasmosis only a problem in the first trimester? Can I go back to eating my rare steaks now?
ETA: Ah ha! A bit of Googling has resulted in this link: http://yourtotalhealth.ivillage.com/toxoplasmosis-pregnancy-risk.html
At the bottom of the third page, it outlines the risks by trimester. So... It looks like I'll be cooking my steaks a little past what I prefer for the duration...
"In general, there is no increased risk to the fetus if the mother has toxoplasmosis more than six months prior to conception, according to the American Academy of Family Physicians. The fetus is not at risk for contracting toxoplasmosis from the mother if she has had the disease in the past unless her immune system becomes compromised (e.g., through HIV infection).
However, if a woman is pregnant or planning to conceive and believes she may have come into contact with Toxoplasma parasites, it is important that she consult a physician about testing for the disease. In cases where mothers become infected with toxoplasmosis, treatment may reduce the risk to the unborn baby.
The likelihood of transmitting the parasite depends on the stage of pregnancy. A large analysis of studies found there was a 15 percent of chance of transmission when the mother contracted the parasite at 13 weeks; a 44 percent chance at 25 weeks; and a 71 percent chance at 36 weeks. Although transmission is more common later in pregnancy, it is more potentially damaging earlier in pregnancy:
*First trimester. Infections occurring during the first trimester often end in miscarriage or stillbirth. Babies who survive are usually born with serious problems, such as:
o Severe neurological impairments, such as mental retardation.
o Cerebral palsy.
o Hydrocephalus. A condition in which excess accumulation in the brain of the fluid surrounding the brain and spinal cord (cerebrospinal fluid) causes the head to become enlarged.
o Seizures.
o Severe eye infections and loss of vision.
o Enlarged liver and spleen.
o Yellowing of the skin and the whites of the eyes (jaundice).
* Second trimester. Congenital toxoplasmosis acquired by the fetus during the second trimester is more common, but generally less severe than earlier in pregnancy. Miscarriage and stillbirth are less common. These babies may still have neurological and other problems, but usually to a lesser degree. They are less likely to show symptoms at birth.
* Third trimester. The infection is most likely to occur late in pregnancy but is least dangerous at this point. Miscarriage and stillbirth are uncommon. Few of these babies have symptoms at birth though problems may still develop later in life.
According to the National Institutes of Health, up to 90 percent of newborns with congenital toxoplasmosis have no symptoms at birth, but 55 to 85 percent develop problems months or years later. These may include:
* Learning disabilities
* Hearing loss
* Eye infections that can impair vision"