posted
Hello...can anyone give me info on Lyme and births? A amish lady is about to give birth and she has had Lyme for 2 1/2 years....she has symptoms now....she was only given 2 weeks worth of antibiotics and left on her own....she has a midwife and the midwife is calling me because she knows I have lyme and wants to know what to watch out for...can anyone help?
Posts: 160 | From IN | Registered: Nov 2001
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I'm not sure there are any known signs/symptoms for a newborn to look for if he/she contracted Lyme in utero. Seems for those cases where Lyme was transmitted in utero, it takes a couple of years for the kids to start displaying symptoms.
If it were me, I would make arrangements (maybe with Igenex) to have the baby and placenta/core blood tested. This would at least allow her to be proactive for her child instead of waiting for symptoms to manifest. Besides, it is unlikely anyone would treat the baby with antibiotics without a positive test result. Mom also needs to be warned about the risks of breastfeeding in terms of transmitting the disease to the baby. Sounds like mom needs more treatment as well...
I'm sure someone with more experience in this area will be along shortly with some advice...
Posts: 561 | From mass | Registered: Jul 2007
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Alv
Unregistered
posted
I would call Dr J in Ct urgent and ask what you need to do .
posted
The symptoms that ALV describe can unfortunately also be very 'normal' in healthy infants as well. Sadly, this is how most doctors will view it and these symptoms will not be linked to Lyme. I agree, a consult with Dr. J is in order.....
Posts: 561 | From mass | Registered: Jul 2007
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adamm
Unregistered
posted
I'd get to Dr. J to find out what needs to be done.
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bettyg
Unregistered
posted
From ``GENEAL'' June 2007
I have been doing some research regarding Lyme and signs/symptoms in small children.
I know many of you have small children that you may be concerned about. I believe my youngest child (4yrs old) may have gotten this disease from me.
For All Children
-dizziness -neck pain and stiffness in almost 90% -sore throats -swollen lymph nodes -excessive thirst, -Chest pains in at least 70%, some have palpatations -Sense of air hunger or shortness of breath, dry cough
-abdominal pain in about 50%, can mimic acute appendicitis -sometimes vomiting, heartburn -rashes that come and go, malar rashes, new psoriasis
-migratory arthralgias, joing pain in 50% to 100% -myalgias in over 80%, back ache, morning stiffness, pain at rest, muscle weakness
-frequent illnessses, dark circles under their eyes -intermittent red, hot pinnae of ears -sleep disturbance in over 80%
-Neurological symptoms are protean and can appear AT ANY TIME during the course of infection *hypersensitivity of skin, scalp and hair *Hypersensitivity to noise, light, smell *Alterations of taste *poor balance and coordination *Uncharacteristic behavior outbursts, mood disturbances, depression *social withdrawal *New onset phobias *Oppositional behaviors *Obsessive compulsive disorders *Deterioration in school performance in over 90% *Difficulty with concentration and attention in school with easily distractibility as well as "brain fog" in over 80% *New onset of ADD
*When measured with formal neuropsychiatric testing, children demonstrate defects in auditory and visual sequential processing
Less Commonly:
*Movement disorders-spaticity, ataxia, motor or vocal tics *Cranial neuropathies, e.g. Bell's Palsy or optic nerve neuritis *Peripheral neuropathies-numbness and tingling, distal parathesias, subtle weakness
Pre-Schoolers and toddlers
- Modd swings, sudden emotional outbursts - Irritabiity - Personality changes - Regression of motor and social skills (developmental milestones) - Changes in play behavior, tire easily, less active
- Trouble falling asleep, frequent awakenings - Nightmares, new phobias, recurrence of seperation anxiety - Diaper rash unresponsive to normal treatment - Frequent URI's, ear and throat infections, bronchitis, pneumonia
Congenital Lyme Disease
* Infants can be infected with Borrelia transpacentally in any stage of pregnancy and/or via mother's breast milk.
* The co-infections: Babesia, Bartonella, Mycoplasma and perhaps even the Ehrilichias can be transmitted transpacentally to the developing fetus.
* Gestational Borreliosis can be associated with repeated miscarriages, fetal death in utero, still births, hydrocephalus, cardiovascual anomalies,
intrauterine growth retardation, neonatal respiratory distress, and maternal toxemia of pregnancy.
* Infants either infected congenitally or from breast milk can have
- Floppiness with poor muscle tone - Irritability - Frequent fevers and illness early in life - Joint sensitivities and body pain - Skin sensitivity - Gastro esophageal reflux - Developmental delays -Learning disabilities and psychiatric problems
* Infants bitten very early in life will have many of the same symptoms - loss and decline in developmental milestones.
I found this to be a pretty inclusive list of signs/symptoms for small children, infants, and those suspected of congenital Lyme.
Sadly, my two children do exhibit many of these symptoms and both have positive bands for Lyme via Igenex diagnostic lab in PALO ALTO, CALIFORNIA. *********************************************
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bejoy
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 11129
posted
Yes, this is serious, but I want to offer some reassurance. I have had lyme 20+ years, but have two healthy, happy children.
Both of my kids tested negative for lyme. I think my little one may have had it, but she was treated heavily and extensively for ear infections with antibiotics when she was very small, so it may have treated lyme as well.
I think it's possible that a lyme infected mother who is being treated might transmit lyme antigens to the baby through the breast milk to stimulate the immune system against lyme. Both my babies breastfed for three years.
Both my kids had high bilirubin, attributable to lyme. Be prepared to get bili lights. It really helps.
My experience, and from reading on this board, is that there is a high chance of lyme hitting the mom pretty hard a couple of months after the birth. This is especially due to sleep loss and stress on the adrenals.
Natural progesterone can help reduce post-partum depression, if the midwife is comfortable with it.
The best thing friends and neighbors can do, in my opinion, is walk the baby in the evenings, if he is colicky or has trouble settling, and come by every afternoon to let the mom nap.
I hope all goes well.
-------------------- bejoy!
"Do not go where the path may lead; go instead where there is no path and leave a trail." -Ralph Waldo Emerson Posts: 1918 | From Alive and Well! | Registered: Feb 2007
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Alv
Unregistered
posted
yes lyme will get worst right after the delivery for the mother and insomnia and depression will come up right away .
hshbmom
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 9478
posted
Is this woman having her baby at home or in the hospital?
If the birth is taking place at home, it would be easy to send a sample of the placenta and the cord blood or even the umbilical cord to Igenex for a PCR test. The midwife could collect the specimens.
The placenta biopsies could be put in a clean, sterile, unused urine specimen cup. You don't need any solution (alcohol or formaldehyde) for a tissue biopsy.
PCR tests are not always positive even in women known to have active Lyme disease. Biopsies are cost about $300.00 for a tissue biopsy from Igenex.
Call Igenex and have them send you a test kit.
Posts: 1672 | From AL/WV/OH | Registered: Jun 2006
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hshbmom
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 9478
posted
Any response?
Posts: 1672 | From AL/WV/OH | Registered: Jun 2006
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posted
I think she can take amoxicillan safely during the pregnancy. I t will treat the baby but not her.
Posts: 102 | From ny | Registered: Feb 2008
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posted
Thank you so much for the info...I e-mailed it to her midwife last night and this will help in giving her a heads up on what to expect.....I had no idea on what to expect for a little one....She said that she had already started in some contractions last night...have not heard anything yet today.....it should help for them to know what to look for in the baby....thanks so much!!
Posts: 160 | From IN | Registered: Nov 2001
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