quote:
Originally posted by cootiegirl:
There's a lot of literature out there about Lyme Disease and pregnancy, much of it you can access right here by clicking on the search button. You can then read up on several past threads. There's a portion of an article I will add to my post once I find it. The reality is that Lyme Disease can be passed on to the baby either in utero or thru breastmilk. However, there are a number of women that have been treated throughout their pregnancies and given birth to healthy babies.
It is important for your daughter, if she is not already, to be seen by a lyme literate physician so that she can be properly cared for. The more she can do to get herself well, the better. She should definitely not consider breastfeeding. Under the circumstances it would not be a wise decision.
Just as aside to all of this, her husband might also want to be evaluated for Lyme Disease. It can be sexually transmitted.
~cootiegirl
Here's the article - courtesy of our own Ms. TinCup!
**Any stage of active Lyme can affect the fetus at any stage of pregnancy. Problems include- miscarriage, still birth, serious birth defects, apparently healthy babies who become ill later on, and sudden infant death.
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, IVs, 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.
Notes from Dr. Jones, who has treated over 7,000 children with Lyme disease.
Over 300 of these children have Lyme as a result of trans-placental or breast
milk exposure to Lyme. These children have gestational or early neonatal Lyme disease from their mother's undiagnosed, untreated, or inadequately treated Lyme disease. These children had a myriad of problems which
improved or resolved with prolonged oral or IV antibiotics. Of the 300 children, several have been off antibiotics and are doing well, so far.
Mothers of gestational Lyme disease children have frequent miscarriages. Most of their pregnancies are difficult and most of the children born have manifestations of the disease at, or shortly after birth.
40 percent have gastroesophageal reflux with vomiting and coughing
80 percent irritability
60 percent have low grade fevers, pallor, and dark circles under their eyes
72 percent have fatigue and lack stamina
23 percent have secondary rashes and 45 percent had other rashes
30 percent had eye problems: posterior cataracts, myopia, astigmatism, conjunctival erythema (Lyme eyes), optic nerve atrophy and optic neuritis and/or uveitis
40 percent have a history of frequent upper respiratory tract infections and otitis, starting in infancy
20 percent have abdominal pain
40 percent have history of noise, light and skin sensitivity
50 percent have arthritis and painful joints
18 percent have developmental delay, including language, speech problems and hypotonia
80 percent have cognitive problems, learning disabilities and mood swings
30 percent have cavernous hemagiomas
8 of the 66 pregnancies resulted in Borrelia burgdorferi and Bartonella henselae positive placentas, umbilical cords, and/or foreskin remnants.
Those with positive PCRs were treated with 6 months of oral antibiotics and are without symptoms 3 months to 4 years later. There appears to be increased evidence of cavernous hemagiomas in children exposed to treated and untreated Borrelia burgdorferi during pregnancy.
Dr. Jones described mothers with Lyme who don't have proper treatment can
have horrendously bad, horrendously horrible pregnancies.
[This message has been edited by cootiegirl (edited 01 June 2005).]
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