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Summertime Also Can Mean Lyme Time



What Pregnant Moms Need to Know

summer, lyme disease, pregnant, moms

Those of us that live in the Hudson Valley know we live in “tick central.”  As the seasons change from spring to summer, it’s always a good idea to go over a few things about those dreaded little tiny crawly things that fall from trees, come into your house on your pet, or just suddenly appear.  And that can transmit Lyme disease.

Do you transmit Lyme to your unborn child?

It’s a bit more worrisome for pregnant moms. Getting diagnosed with Lyme disease is distressing enough when not pregnant, but the idea of transmitting it to your baby-to-be can make you even more concerned. Luckily, doctors say that Lyme disease does not cause any additional risk to your pregnancy or the health of your little one. Borrelia burgdorferi, the bacteria that’s known to cause Lyme disease, isn’t normally transmitted from mother to unborn baby.

Infants born to mothers with Lyme disease do not require any additional treatment. While rare reports have shown that babies born to moms with Lyme have been diagnosed with heart defects, the research is inconclusive and unclear. Most doctors think that the reports are so rare that they may just be coincidences. 

What to do if you suspect you have Lyme Disease?

It bears repeating: Getting diagnosed early on is key so that the antibiotics can start to work on the disease, and you can avoid the more serious later stage complications. Lyme disease can be safely treated when you’re pregnant with antibiotics like amoxicillin. While doxycycline is an effective treatment for Lyme disease, it is not considered safe during pregnancy. Azithromycin also may not be safe to take.

Source: https://www.whattoexpect.com/pregnancy/pregnancy-health/lyme-disease-during-pregnancy/#howcanlymediseaseaffectmybaby



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