Maybe something to know (cmv).. a lesson learned.. maybe for you too

[yellow610]

hi everyone,

I got my first ever bfp this morning. I'm beyond shocked but I'm not here to gloat, because i know that we're all trying so hard. The reason I'm writing is because I had cmv and I had no idea what it was before and i'm worried many other women may not know what it is and how dangerous it can be to an unborn baby.

We started trying almost a year ago. I hadn't had a gyn/doc visit in over a year and i knew in the back of my mind, i should go and get a good check up but I didn't and we kept trying. By June of last year I began to feel really ill. Low grade fever started right after I ovulated that month, so I thought this was it! But then I got my period and continued to feel sick. I had swollen glands along with the fever and restless legs. I just felt ill. I finally went to the doctor and after many many tests, they said I contracted cmv and to stop trying to have a baby immediately..

Its a viral infection thats very common and most people get it and dont even realize it. It can have no symptons , to mono-like symptoms or extreme, which is what i had (enlarged liver and spleen). My boyfriend had it and he didnt know and I never got it because he never "came" in me before we started trying. So I contracted it through his sperm probably. The doctors told me to wait to try for at least 6 months because cmv is the number 1 cause for child ******ation, deafness, blindness etc. I had to build the antibodies that will pass thru the placenta so the baby will be immune to it. Either way, the baby also gets the viral infection.

So we waited and got very lucky that this was our first month trying again (7 months later). I will worry throughout this whole pregnancy and I pray everything goes well. So, I just wanted to tell everyone this story because it can happen to anyone. I spent a lot of time reading everyones posts and not many people seem to bring this up. I'm grateful to forums like this, because i learned a lot and gained a lot of support from many people on here.

Thanks for reading and i wish everyone the best

 

[katertots]

Thanks for sharing your story. This is very good information to know. Congrats on your BFP. Praying all goes well.

 

[betty14]

Massive congrats on your bfp!!

Sorry if this is silly question but what is cmv??

X x

 

[yellow610]

Thanks so much!!

Its a viral infection in the herpes family. Here's a link that explains it:

https://www.americanpregnancy.org/pregnancycomplications/cytomegalovirusinfection.html

 

[lovie]

hi yello, big congrats with your BFP! im so sorry you are worried abot the cmv effecting your pregnancy/baby, my little sister caught cmv when she was 14 months old and she had a very very rare alergic reaction to the virus where her body broke down most of her red blood cells. the specialist at the hospital told us that around 70% of the population have had this virus and you can catch it from sneezes, touching surfaces and other very easy ways, if this is right many women ttc should allready have had the virus and already have the antibodies. I gues sthey dont give us more info on this because there is no vacine as with german measels to prevent this happening, so it is out of our hands.

Im sure if the doctor told you to wait 6 months before trying that your baby will be fine, I think doctors allways have to give advice on the safe side, is there a test that you can have that detects how much of the antibodies you allready have to put your mind at rest?

my cousin was 20 weeks pregnant when my sister was diagnosed with cmv, we were staying at her house and she had very close contact with my sister, including changing her nappies, whiping her nose and she didnt catch it (i suspect she had allready had it) she has a perfect 6 year old daughter now, and my sister is 7 and youd never guess she was so critically ill as a baby.

enjoy a H+H 9 months, horay for you BFP

 

[Feisty Fidget]

Here is some info about CMV Betty;
https://www.health.state.ny.us/diseases/communicable/cytomegalovirus/fact_sheet.htm

Thank you so much for the information yellow and I wish you a healthy and happy nine months

 

[yellow610]

Thank you xoxo

Lovie, I appreciate the reassurance... thanks for telling me this story..

I saw a gyn, reg doc and then eventually a hematologist. The gyn refused to tell me when was safe. I think there isn't much info out there and she didnt want the liability. The hematologist I saw was more sincere and gave me the ok to try again. His wife miscarried shortly after she contracted mono and cmv. I was frustrating to say the least. especially when the gyn said to go with my gut... wtf??

anyway, worth reading up on it!