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: What To Expect/EVERYDAY HEALTH GROUP
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