Just out of curiosity, if you tested positive for Borrelia b. (or Bartonella, Babesia, etc.), but were asymptomatic, would you still pursue treatment, especially if you were considering having kids in the future?
I am assuming you can still transmit infections transplacentally even if you are asymptomatic based on this case report someone posted earlier:
Or is it better not to "poke the sleeping bear" so to speak?
Posted by surprise (Member # 34987) on :
Well, when you wrote 'having kids in the future' that changed my original answer.
Since I have a congenitally infected child, and have done a ton of research and networking which leads me to believe they are harder to recover,
I'd say take an antibiotic or two while pregnant. The pregnant body undergoes a lot of stress.
Otherwise, I've had 2 LLMD's tell me: no symptoms, no treatment.
Posted by gigimac (Member # 33353) on :
Ditto what Surprise said.
Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
"an antibiotic or two??"
Posted by surprise (Member # 34987) on :
Sorry, the correct protocol while pregnant with Lyme as outlined by Dr. J.
TF has a copy of it, which I should copy and save for times like this- 1 antibiotic during pregnancy, such as amoxicillin, with an average estimate % of transfer, amoxicillin + another antibiotic during pregnancy (making two) less % of transfer.
One antibiotic or two meant protocols. Sorry, I write cryptic at times.
Posted by Keebler (Member # 12673) on :
Pregnancy, Lyme & TBD -
Posted by GretaM (Member # 40917) on :
Agree with surprise.
Seen too many sick kids at my support group that got lyme congenitally.
Every kid there in fact.
If I was planning to get preggers, I would begin detoxing and binding mycotoxins, and ensure my methylation issues were addressed.
Then would get dr,j's program lined up and ready for when I got preggers.
Plus I would really really research childhood and infant vaccines ahead of time to ensure my partner and I were on the same page regarding infant and childood vaccines.
Also would discuss what to do if the placenta tested positive for Bb.
Always good to get that stuff out in the open ahead of time, so one can enjoy pregnancy as much as possible.
God Bless.
Posted by TF (Member # 14183) on :
From my notes when Dr. J gave a talk on this:
Treating the pregnant mother: There is less than 1% transmission of the illness if the mother is treated with 2 antibiotics during the pregnancy; 25% rate of transmission if she is treated with just one antibiotic; and 50% rate of transmission if she is not given antibiotics at all.
It doesn’t matter what trimester the mother becomes infected. These are the statistics.
From the slide presentation:
The antibiotic dosages have to be adequate.
If the lyme infected mother is on adequate doses of antibiotic therapy during gestation, then NO babies are born with lyme.
Posted by beck (Member # 43653) on :
Thank you so much for all of the advice! I will for sure take antibiotics during any future pregnancies. If I can at least prevent any of my future kids from getting Lyme that way, I will.
However, I am just wondering, but isn't it possible that doing so could awaken/activate the lyme in the mother?
Also, couldn't taking antibiotics while pregnant cause a herx reaction? I don't want to be sick while pregnant as that can also have a harmful affect on the baby.
This disease is so complicated! Thanks
Posted by beaches (Member # 38251) on :
If you have TBDs and want to get pregnant, the health of your baby is of utmost importance.
You must do whatever you can to have a healthy baby.
Many, many here can tell you that you do not want to give birth to a baby who was congenitally infected. Mothers here can explain that hell to you.
Since you seem to be very concerned about antibiotics "awakening/activating" Lyme in yourself, or you having a herx reaction, perhaps you should reconsider pregnancy.
Posted by TF (Member # 14183) on :
When you are pregnant, the pregnancy hormones supress the lyme and its symptoms. However, as soon as the baby is delivered, the symptoms may return in full force and the new mother may need assistance. "There may be profound fatigue..."
Go to the link Keebler gave you, and click on "Gestational Lyme, Dr. J. Presentation 2011" that you will see at the bottom of the page. You can read this and more in the slides you will find there.
See Slide 21 for the info above.
So, this makes it sound like the expectant mother will not be sick during the pregnancy.
Posted by surprise (Member # 34987) on :
When I was pregnant my last time, 8 years ago and untreated/ unknown,
Lyme and Bart symptoms came out unbearably- all chalked up to being an older pregnant mother. That baby, however, is not congenital infected, but also never breast fed (personal reasons.)
I don't think we can say infected pregnant mothers will not have symptoms, it was not true for me--
Posted by beck (Member # 43653) on :
Thanks so much for the information. The slide show was very interesting and did answer a lot of my questions.
Everyone woman's body and health are different so I probably won't know how it will go until I get there.
I don't want to not have kids just because of Lyme. However, I do want to make sure I am as prepared as can be ahead of time.