Question About Pregnancy & Animals

[lovinwdw]

Hey there everyone!!! I posted a few weeks back that DH & I will be starting our family at the end of the year Anyway...i have heard so many different things, but i wanted some input from all of you folks. DH & I have a dog (my baby, Jack), 2 cats (Jingles & Dumpster) and a guinea pig (Francine, we saved her from the other mean guinea pigs that were biting her). I have heard that when your pregnant you should not clean a litter box because the urine can make you miscarry, but i also heard the poop can make you miscarry too... I have also heard that cleaning up after rodents (which i really don't consider Francine to be) can cause birth defects. Is any of this true??? Now I know that everyone has different beliefs and see things in different ways and i know that there are tons of old wive's tales, but i wanted to see if you fine people could shed some light on the subject for me. thanks...

 

[SpecialK]

Cat poop carries a bacteria that can cause hydrocephalus in unborn babies. Pregnant women are advised not to clean the litter box. Have your husband do it - better safe than sorry.

 

[mrsltg]

The kitty kitter issue is only true if your cat goes outdoors. Something about the birds they eat and a disease that can be passed through feces. I haven't heard anything about guinea pigs, though. Good luck!

 

[mickeyboat]

http://familydoctor.org/180.xml

Definitely have someone else handle the litter chores.

Denae

 

[andromedaslove]

Changing kitty litter can cause you to get toxoplasmosis which can be a danger to you and your unborn baby. However, if precautions are taken it isn't an issue. Wear gloves, and wash your hands immediately afterwards. I always made DH do it because, well, I was pregnant and it was my right to push of some chores on him!! I have never heard anything about dog or rodent poop. I would just keep a pair of rubber or plastic gloves handy and make sure you wash well afterwards and you shouldn't have any trouble.

Dana

 

[katerkat]

The kitty kitter issue is only true if your cat goes outdoors. Something about the birds they eat and a disease that can be passed through feces. I haven't heard anything about guinea pigs, though. Good luck!

They can also get it from mice, so if you have a problem of mice and cats catching them, it's a risk. Also, stray cats can have it and might have used your garden as a litter box, so be very careful outside. I always wore shoes outside and gloves when gardening.

Personally, my husband was deployed for half the pregnancy, so I used gloves, a mask and washed my hands every time I changed the litter box. My OB said that was fine.

 

[sha_lyn]

From what I was told yrs ago (when PG with DD nine yrs ago) if you've been around cats prior to pregnacy you have probably already been exposed and therefore have a greatly reduced risk of having a baby with problems due to exposure. The risk seems to be to babies who's mothers are exposed for the first time just prior to or during pregnancy http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dpd/parasites/toxoplasmosis/factsht_toxoplasmosis.htm


I know that reptiles/amphibians were then main thing I had to be careful of. I was not allowed to handle the turtle or clean her tank while PG. They can carry many bacteria, including ecoli, botulism etc.

 

[pansmermaidzlagoon]

and as far as the toxoplasmosis, I remember reading that you are statistically much more likely to get it from undercooked/raw meat (esp. pork) than from the litter box...so, if you are lucky enough to have someone else clean the litter boxes for you, then take the precaution.....but if someone were on their own, it is really nothing to panic about, just use gloves, etc

 

[lovinwdw]

Thank you everyone for your quick responses. I feel a little bit better now about the whole thing. DH will be cleaning the litterboxes and, most likely, the guinea pig's cage...so, i think i'll be good to go! thanks again!!!

 

[lovinwdw]

http://familydoctor.org/180.xml

Definitely have someone else handle the litter chores.

Denae

Thank you for posting this...i emailed it to my DH and he read it...

 

[Becky2005]

I do know I was told by my OB/GYN NOT to clean the litter boxes of the cats.

For me, it wasn't a problem because the agreement of getting the cats in the first place was DH's job was the litter box.

I do believe there is truth about the litter box statement because every person I know has been told by their doctors NOT to do that OR wear gloves if you have to be the one to change it, when pregnant because of the chance of a transmittal of a bacteria???