posted
I have been off medication for a while now and hope to have a baby.... any opinions on doing this with chronic lyme (I am NOT taking any antibiotics, etc) the OB GYN cleared me, but I wanted any other opinions you may have...
Posts: 52 | Registered: Jan 2005
| IP: Logged |
I just wanted to warn you that you may get some negative responses to your question. I asked this a couple of years ago and was flooded with horrible comments.
I had a baby almost a year ago (my third child). I have chronic Lyme and have been on abx for a couple of years. I had a perfectly healthy, beautiful baby girl. I also know quite a few people who have done the same thing.
Dr. B participated in a study of TREATED women/pregnancies and found that in women treated with proper Amoxicillan levels, there were no adverse outcomes.
I do know of, however, a baby who tested positive when the mom used Rocephin during pregnancy.
Do you know of Dr. Jones? He told me that a healthy baby is very possible if you are treated during pregnancy and do not breastfeed. I took Amoxicillan during my pregnancy and have (so far) a lyme-free baby girl.
I think that the key is to be on abx during pregnancy and test after birth. That isn't a 100% guarantee, but the likelihood of having a baby with Lyme is very, very low if you are followed by an LLMD and/or consult with Dr. Jones.
I have never regretted my decision to have another baby, even though I have Lyme Disease. I will not let Lyme control my life, but will take all necessary precautions.
Please email me if you would like... Like I said, public support on this board for pregnancy is pretty limited. But I have information and a lot of great women that I regularly talk to that can provide support and information.
posted
I share my opinion with Shelly, whole-heartedly. I am currently 4 months pregnant, with lyme disease and babesia. I did not know I had lyme when I became pregnant, but I don't believe that would have changed my mind about deciding to become pregnant.
I am on amoxicillian, 4500 mg/day. It's a lot of medication, but I have been in consult with Dr. Jones, 2 obgyns, and a maternal fetal medicine doctor. I believe that the amoxy will not harm the baby, as I have been led to believe through all of my research and consultations with doctors. I also feel very good about the chances of not passing lyme to this baby in utero.
Just make sure to take all of the medication throughout your pregnancy, and enjoy your pregnancy and your baby! Feel free to email me as well. best of luck!!
Sara
Posts: 160 | From Frederick, Maryland | Registered: Nov 2004
| IP: Logged |
posted
You are the only one who can make this decision, and whatever way you go there are risks (even if you were perfectly healthy), talk to Dr. Jones or your LLMD, and know in your heart that you are making the right decision.
cootiegirl
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 3216
posted
I have to agree with lymesux - this is a highly personal decision and you will receive a variety of answers. Each person has to decide for themselves what is right, but more importantly what is right for the child - having a family is an emotional issue, and sometimes people put their "I wants" before anything else.....
For me, I would not have a child while still positive for lyme. I realize every precaution necessary can be taken, but I still would not take that chance. It would be my plan to wait a couple of years following treatment and a clean bill of health before getting pregnant. I look at this as if it were any other health risk.
If I was at great risk for having a child with a serious defect, I would think long and hard about what I would do. Could I have a healthy child? Sure. I'm just not much of a gambler and I would worry most of all for what could be for that child and the part I played in it because it was my 'want'at that time.
I realize that healthy babies can be born to infected mothers, but the most obvious to me is that in my case, I am absolutely exhausted with lyme and have days where I feel pretty lousy. The demands of an infant and toddler are great and you have to be available to them as they need you, not when you can do it. Babies are high maintenance people no matter how easy going their temperament. Then factor in colic!
As much as we don't want lyme to control our lives, the fact of the matter is, it does, and while we don't have to feel like victims, we do have to adjust our lives to deal with this card we have been dealt for the moment. Once treated and recovered, then I think having a child is a very realistic thing to consider.
It is painful to think about this darn disease effecting our families and our ability to have families. Incidentally I am speaking as a mom - I have three kids, two have lyme.... cootiegirl
[This message has been edited by cootiegirl (edited 09 March 2005).]
Posts: 1728 | From New York State | Registered: Oct 2002
| IP: Logged |
posted
Cootiegirl has a very valid point in that the demands of a baby are extremely high, and if a person feels they would be unable to meet all of the physical and emotional demands, that should be greatly considered.
I feel the risk of a child suffering for the ill health of his/her parents exceeds that of the child obtaining lyme in utero, if properly treated.
That said, I have a 15-month-old son who is very, very high energy and demanding, and I am quite ill as well as pregnant. It is amazing how one is able to rise to the challenge for someone they love. I am up at at 'em all day with my little one, and I feel it has been the single most helpful thing as far as not allowing me to sit around feeling sorry for myself. I don't have the time to think about the pain I'm in during the day because I'm too busy chasing after him. Granted, when he goes to bed I feel like everything in my body is broken, but I thought I'd share my story.
Sara
Posts: 160 | From Frederick, Maryland | Registered: Nov 2004
| IP: Logged |
treepatrol
Honored Contributor (10K+ posts)
Member # 4117
posted
Pregnancy Pregnancy and Lyme Email Discussion Group
The Lyme Disease Network is a non-profit organization funded by individual donations. If you would like to support the Network and the LymeNet system of Web services, please send your donations to:
The
Lyme Disease Network of New Jersey 907 Pebble Creek Court,
Pennington,
NJ08534USA http://www.lymenet.org/
UBBFriend: Email this page to someone!
Printer-friendly view of this topic