Lyme and Pregnancy

[JackieCalifornia]

Questions sometimes pop up here about Lyme disease and pregnancy.

The MD who blogs as 'LymeMD' (and has recently revealed his true name and location) has just posted a piece on Lyme and pregnancy.  It doesn't have a specific 'to do' list, but instead discusses the situation generally.  Might be interesting/helpful to those of you in baby mode.  

The site is at LymeMD.blogspot.com.  (If you search only for 'LymeMD', other unrelated things will come up too.)  

He doesn't post often, but the essays are interesting, just to hear how he thinks.  

[JackieCalifornia]

Well, that's uplifting.

Ladies, consult with your Lyme specialist before pregnancy or as soon as possible after conception.  That's a prudent thing to do, but try not to worry -- just do the best you can, and if you get surprised with a pregnancy, don't panic -- just call your LLMD and tell them why you need an appointment for guidance soon.

Be not afraid.

[cave76]

Now some good news, according to Dr. J (the Lyme pedo) and Dr. B. gleaned from someone who was there:

Pregnancy and Lyme- Update 2005
At the Hope to Heal Lyme Conference in Reston, VA (2005), Dr. B
and Dr. J both spoke about Lyme and pregnancy.

Study of 66 women concluded:

If the mother is kept on appropriate antibiotic therapy for the duration of the
pregnancy.... (IMPORTANT- Antibiotics should begin **BEFORE** conception and be continued until AFTER delivery), then no adverse fetal outcomes were reported that were related to Lyme disease.

No adverse effects for the baby from the antibiotic therapy.

Breast milk can carry the Lyme spirochetes and can possibly be infectious to the baby.

Serious post partum depression is VERY common and should be expected.

Parents MUST arrange for help at home for at least the first month after delivery.

Mothers MUST follow a rigid schedule. Antibiotics can be specific for the
mother and safe.. and can include orals, IV’s, and/or injections.

Antibiotic levels must be monitored regularly if orals are used.

NO breast feeding.

At delivery the babies cord blood and the placenta should be tested for Lyme,
Bartonella by PCR and culture if possible.

Babies urine must be tested monthly for Lyme by PCR.

LLMD to follow babies progress.

[cave76]

P.S. I have no idea where that last bit of links are from. My copypaste error, I guess.

[cave76]

"Other possible ways of becoming infected with Babesia include:
transmission from an infected mother to her baby during pregnancy or delivery."

http://www.cdc.gov/parasites/babesiosis/gen_info/faqs.html

A case in 2012:
http://www.lohud.com/article/20120706/NEWS02/307060050?nclick_check=1

"By tracking down samples saved from the placenta as well as blood from the baby and mother, researchers showed that the infant was born with babesiosis, said Wormser.

“The results were definitive,” Wormser said.

There have been four previously cited incidences where doctors suspected a baby had been infected with babesiosis before birth. But the case of the Yorktown Heights child was the first time it was proved."

That baby was given antibiotics and was cured---- a happy ending.
I wonder if all pregnant women have samples saved from placenta 'just in case'. Esp. those that suspect or know of an illness, tick borne in this case.asites/babesiosis/gen_info/faqs.html

[cave76]

I didn't read that on LymeMD's post. I didn't realize that this thread was limited to only discussion of what LymeMD had said.

I thought it was about pregnancy and Lyme (that's what the subject heading states) ---- all the ramifications of having Lyme while pregnant, thinking about getting pregnant or even even breastfeeding while taking abx.

My bad.

[JackieCalifornia]

I can find NO mention of chlorella in the LymeMD post.

[cave76]

Some people may be taking chlorella but I've seen this warning on WebMd and other places:

"Special Precautions & Warnings:
Pregnancy and breast-feeding: Not enough is known about the use of chlorella during pregnancy and breast-feeding. Stay on the safe side and avoid use."