https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Mon, 20 Apr 2026 15:40:30 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/cmv-virus-in-pregnancy/page/2#post-2821943 Fri, 11 May 2018 09:50:17 +0000 teawithpaloma 2821943@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Good take: <a href="http://www.slate.com/blogs/xx_factor/2016/11/01/no_cmv_is_not_the_new_zika.html" rel="nofollow">http://www.slate.com/blogs/xx_factor/2016/11/01/no_cmv_is_not_the_new_zika.html</a> </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/cmv-virus-in-pregnancy/page/2#post-2821942 Fri, 11 May 2018 09:49:16 +0000 teawithpaloma 2821942@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Academicsocialite: I totally agree. @Mrsbells: I just asked my provider. I said this is causing me undue anxiety and I want it checked. If he didn't do it I would have found someone else. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/cmv-virus-in-pregnancy/page/2#post-2821941 Fri, 11 May 2018 09:47:44 +0000 Academicsocialite 2821941@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrsbells: Just to say, I totally echo @macsunshine on this. There's absolutely no cause to panic about this, but I do believe having more info is better than being in the dark. As a pregnant woman, the thing I recommend first is to know your CMV status. If you have the antibodies from a past infection, that significantly reduces your risk. And then, if you test negative, you'll know to take more precautions. My dear friend had her titers checked after our loss and she found out she was negative for CMV antibodies, so she was really careful throughout her pregnancy, and they checked her levels once a trimester to make sure she never caught it. So it's not unreasonable to press your care provider to give you this info. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/cmv-virus-in-pregnancy/page/2#post-2821920 Fri, 11 May 2018 08:12:12 +0000 teawithpaloma 2821920@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Hugs to all on this thread. I still cannot believe we are not taught more about basic prevention. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/cmv-virus-in-pregnancy/page/2#post-2821910 Fri, 11 May 2018 07:42:05 +0000 MACSUNSHINE 2821910@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@mrsbells please don’t be too stressed, honestly there are any number of things to be concerned about during pregnancy. This is one that if you are aware of the risks you can minimize and you can be tested to see if you have been infected before. My understanding is that the risk is with a first time infection in early pregnancy. I did not know the risks and shared everything with my DS, the full effect is not yet known but we do not anticipate severe birth defects as the infection was very late in my first trimester. </p> <p>I would talk to your doctor and test as you deem appropriate. We have friends that went through IVF with loads of genetic testing and their baby was born with a number of birth defects that were never identified until birth. They still do not know the full scope of what they are dealing with developmentally. This has helped me keep things in perspective, pregnancy and parenthood are full of worries and unknowns. </p> <p>CMV is something I wish I had known about as it is something that if educated on you can mitigate the risk. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/cmv-virus-in-pregnancy/page/2#post-2821881 Fri, 11 May 2018 05:27:14 +0000 thepaperbutterfly 2821881@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@AcademicSocialite: Thank you so much for taking the time to answer my questions! I just asked the doctor to test for it, so hopefully that will give me some more definitive answers. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/cmv-virus-in-pregnancy/page/2#post-2821877 Fri, 11 May 2018 02:51:26 +0000 Ms.Mermaid 2821877@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrsbells: my cousin’s daughter has CMV and severe birth defects/developmental delays and I’ve been terrified of it my whole pregnancy. I stopped sharing food/drinks with my daughter when we started TTC and told my husband to do the same, he didn’t actually stop until first trimester. I washed my hands constantly first trimester and admit that I’ve become marginally more lax second trimester. I was never a lip kisser though my daughter tries to kiss me on the lips sometimes. But also if you have a young child and are pregnant, you are so immunocompromised that it’s not a good idea to share drinks anyway. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/cmv-virus-in-pregnancy/page/2#post-2821785 Thu, 10 May 2018 14:14:00 +0000 Mrsbells 2821785@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>This thread has really scared me a bit. One more thing to worry about :sad: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/cmv-virus-in-pregnancy/page/2#post-2821740 Thu, 10 May 2018 11:37:48 +0000 MACSUNSHINE 2821740@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Academicsocialite: I apologize, I had not read back through the entire thread. I am sorry you had to experience that, I appreciate your honesty and perspective.</p> <p>So happy for you and wish you the best! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/cmv-virus-in-pregnancy/page/2#post-2821731 Thu, 10 May 2018 11:19:18 +0000 Academicsocialite 2821731@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@mrsbubbletea: thank you so much. It has been a tough journey, but I am finally starting to relax and believe that I'll get to bring home a baby this time. :heart: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/cmv-virus-in-pregnancy/page/2#post-2821730 Thu, 10 May 2018 11:17:40 +0000 Academicsocialite 2821730@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@thepaperbutterfly: So, based on my layperson's understanding, testing for CMV works like this:</p> <p>Presence of IgG - indicates CMV infection at some point in your life.<br /> Presence of IgG and IgM - indicates current infection<br /> Presence of IgM only - indicates very recent infection.</p> <p>If IgM is detected at any level, the next step is to run an avidity test to try to determine how recent the infection is and whether it is a result of first-time exposure to the virus. If the avidity is &gt;60, this indicates an infection more than 6 months in the past and also, usually, means your body has the antibodies to fight the infection and protect a growing baby. So with testing, there can be a process of elimination to find out how at risk you might be. </p> <p>If you have a recent primary infection, early in pregnancy, the rate of transmission/fetal infection/severe outcomes is thought to be as high as 20-25%, but that's still an 75-80% chance the baby will be completely healthy. The chances of what happened in our pregnancy were so low, we had to hit every "worst" scenario to end up with a baby so severely affected, which we did. I didn't ever notice any symptoms of the virus, but did have a rough first trimester with fatigue (CMV can sometimes present like mono). Issues with the baby's brain development were not detected until a 26-week growth scan. CMV infection transmission can be detected with amniocentesis, but not reliably until after 21 weeks. Often the first sign of an issue is a "bright" or echogenic bowel on ultrasound. But we never had that red flag in our case. Everything for us was fine, until it wasn't.</p> <p>All that said, my advice it try not to worry but push for the testing and don't listen to anyone who says it's not necessary. The reality is that most doctors haven't seen many CMV cases in their practices, so they are just not well-informed on how to make determinations about testing and care. Just my 2 cents. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/cmv-virus-in-pregnancy/page/2#post-2821612 Wed, 09 May 2018 23:58:43 +0000 mrsbubbletea 2821612@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Academicsocialite: so happy to hear you are expecting again! :heart: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/cmv-virus-in-pregnancy/page/2#post-2821611 Wed, 09 May 2018 23:54:25 +0000 thepaperbutterfly 2821611@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Thanks ladies for the advice :) My OB hasn't refused to do the test. I never specifically asked him to do it. Not yet at least. It was my PCP who couldn't do it, which is kind of weird I guess because he is associated with a large medical/teaching hospital. He did test me for several other viruses like varicella, and I had antibodies against it. </p> <p>Unfortunately I have a complicated medical history, and it is difficult to find a doctor that treats me like a human being. I worked with this OB during my last pregnancy, and I liked him a lot. I did press for some sort of test last pregnancy (I think it had to do with the liver) because I was itching like crazy, and that was a symptom of the disease. He ordered the test and it came back negative. </p> <p>@ACADEMICSOCIALITE I was reading up on CMV testing, and saw that there was an IgG test and an IgM test. From what I read IgM would indicate a recent infection and IgG would indicate a previous infection. Though I found this statement from the CDC. </p> <p>"Routine screening for primary CMV infection during pregnancy is not recommended in the United States. Most laboratory tests currently available cannot conclusively detect if a primary CMV infection occurred during pregnancy. This makes it difficult to counsel pregnant women about the risk to their fetuses. The lack of a proven treatment to prevent or treat infection of the fetus reduces the potential benefits of prenatal screening."</p> <p>Soooooo, I'm worried about a potential false positive. The best time to be tested would have been prior to pregnancy. Also, if I find out that I have an active infection I'm not sure what could even be done. I don't know if the Immunoglobin is a standard treatment. </p> <p>If my baby has defects, what is the typical time frame for detection? I read a research paper that was a case study and the abnormalities were detected at 17 weeks. </p> <p>Did you have any symptoms of the CMV infection? I haven't been sick at all except for that one day I went into the ER, but my symptoms lasted less than 24 hours so it felt like it was so infection I had before or else why would it be so short, or maybe it was hormones instead of an infection.</p> <p>The other thing is that I taught ballet to children 3-5 years old along with older kids and adults for like 8 years, and I wasn't super hygienic XD So I probably contracted it at some point, but without a blood test I can't be sure. </p> <p>Thanks so much for your help :D </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/cmv-virus-in-pregnancy/page/2#post-2821555 Wed, 09 May 2018 17:18:44 +0000 MACSUNSHINE 2821555@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@academicsocialite thank you so much! I will definitely reach out should I need to talk. I have come to terms with it and I am grateful for the extra information and monitoring at this point. </p> <p>I don’t know if I am receiving the antibodies or not, it is a blind study. It was the only option offered to me, my doctor and I did not see a downside to participating. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/cmv-virus-in-pregnancy/page/2#post-2821497 Wed, 09 May 2018 14:46:18 +0000 Academicsocialite 2821497@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MACSUNSHINE: I'm so sorry you are dealing with CMV in your pregnancy. But so lucky that you found out about it and could get the valacyclovir (is that what you are getting?) treatments. It was too late for me by the time they discovered the issues with my son's brain development. I also struggled with latent CMV in my current pregnancy and I'm due next month. If you ever want to chat, I'm happy to be in touch. I know how stressful it can be. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/cmv-virus-in-pregnancy/page/2#post-2821494 Wed, 09 May 2018 14:42:27 +0000 Academicsocialite 2821494@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>If your OB won't test for CMV when you specifically request it, I would find another doctor. You could also ask your primary care dr to run the test in the meantime. My primary physician did my bloodwork at my physical and it was no big deal - they run for IgM and IgG antibodies so it's really two tests. The challenge is what happens if the results indicate a recent infection or if you test negative. Most drs aren't experts in immunology or CMV specifically. I'm happy to share what I know. I am 35 weeks pregnant after my TFMR last year, and my CMV levels showed latent infection throughout this pregnancy, so I have done a lot of reading and research into avidity and antibody levels, if it's at all helpful. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/cmv-virus-in-pregnancy/page/2#post-2821263 Tue, 08 May 2018 20:45:31 +0000 MACSUNSHINE 2821263@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@thepapedbutterfly I would demand the test, not sure why they would ever object to ordering the bloodwork. For me the symptoms were a very rough cold, nothing too severe but a fierce cold. Good luck! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/cmv-virus-in-pregnancy#post-2821241 Tue, 08 May 2018 19:56:29 +0000 Iced Tea 2821241@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MACSUNSHINE: I’m sorry you have to contend with that. I know I’d be scared. </p> <p>@thepaperbutterfly: if I were you, I’d find a provider who was more interested in making me feel comfortable. There’s enough to deal with in pregnancy as it is without being out-of-sync with your healthcare provider. At a preconception appointment, I asked for, and received a test for cmv antibodies. My midwife ordered the test and did not hassle me at all about it. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/cmv-virus-in-pregnancy#post-2821226 Tue, 08 May 2018 18:55:01 +0000 thepaperbutterfly 2821226@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I've know about congenital CMV infection long before I even got pregnant with my first child. I'm a pharmacist with an interest in medical things, so I happen upon a lot of random health information. I asked my primary care doctor for a blood test for CMV (while I was not pregnant), and he said he couldn't do it. So I have no idea whether or not I've had it before. </p> <p>I have a 16 month old in daycare. I got a BFP at 10 dpo. On 12 dpo I came down with severe nausea, and my joints started to ache, like I was coming down with something. I ended up going to the ER. Shortly after the joint achiness went away (so that lasted less than 24 hours), but the nausea was still really bad so after running a bunch of tests and ultrasounds (that found nothing) they released me with some Reglan. One would think my CBC would be off if I had some sort of infection, and they said mine was normal, so I don't know what was going on. . . . </p> <p>I'm 9 weeks pregnant right now. I asked my OB if it could have been CMV that sent me to the ER, and he said it was rather unlikely. We just left it at that. Should I push to get tested for CMV? He already thinks I'm a neurotic crazy patient, which is somewhat true :$ I hate being pregnant, so many things to worry about &gt;_&lt; </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/cmv-virus-in-pregnancy#post-2821181 Tue, 08 May 2018 15:34:40 +0000 josina 2821181@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MACSUNSHINE: Sorry to see that you had contracted CMV, prayers that it was not passed on to your baby; I can't even imagine how scary that would be.<br /> @Mrs. Goose: Glad that your baby was just fine, so scary!</p> <p>Stats say 1 in 200 children are born with CMV every year, so I am surprised its NOT talked about more, especially to mother's who already have toddlers at home. I shared drinks/food/kisses all the time with DS while pregnant. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/cmv-virus-in-pregnancy#post-2821167 Tue, 08 May 2018 14:44:06 +0000 MACSUNSHINE 2821167@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@josina I am so sorry to hear this. It is not discussed very often.</p> <p>I contracted CMV late in my first trimester. I randomly opted into a study on it, otherwise I would have no idea. Currently there are no signs that it has transmitted to the baby (I'm due in a few weeks) but the baby will be fully tested when born. It was not something I had ever heard of before nor did I know I was at a higher risk with a toddler at home.</p> <p>I elected to continue to stay in the study, I receive infusions every 3-5 weeks to hopefully prevent the virus from transmitting to the baby and reducing the chances of any birth defects. We are lucky that so far the baby continues to grow and if anything we will be faced with minor birth defects. The statistics are very scary around this, my initial reaction to the positive result was not this calm. Bottom line is the risk of severe birth defects is extremely low, if I remember correctly 1-4% of women contract CMV for the first time during pregnancy and then from there the chances of passing to baby are 1 in 3.</p> <p>The study is sponsored by the NIH and is to further understand the leading birth defects as the result of a first time infection for the mother during pregnancy. Hearing loss in the first two years of life is the most common birth defect identified. </p> <p>It is definitely not discussed enough and I am hoping that my participation will lead to further support that there should be more education and testing. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/cmv-virus-in-pregnancy#post-2821143 Tue, 08 May 2018 14:24:58 +0000 Mrs. Goose 2821143@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Good idea to bump. I had a scare in my second pregnancy after getting a positive test for cmv after going to the midwife with a face rash and she suggested getting tested. I then had a follow up test that was inconclusive and I went to see a specialist and had two in-depth scans at 25 ish and 27 weeks (can’t exactly remember the weeks I went). I was very relieved nothing came of it for my baby and it was a really upsetting and scary month while I worried. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/cmv-virus-in-pregnancy#post-2821129 Tue, 08 May 2018 13:57:26 +0000 josina 2821129@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Bumping this post as I just found out that my cousin's baby has cCMV and it sounds like a pretty severe case. My heart hurts so much for her!<br /> I had never even heard of this virus before, so the idea of it being easily transmitted via my own young children is pretty scary. I don't believe many women know of CMV so thought it was worth bumping again. </p> <p>This site has lot of info...<br /> <a href="https://www.nationalcmv.org/home.aspx" rel="nofollow">https://www.nationalcmv.org/home.aspx</a> </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/cmv-virus-in-pregnancy#post-2695796 Fri, 10 Feb 2017 16:13:48 +0000 Academicsocialite 2695796@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@junebugsmama: my understanding is the children born with cCMV don't shed/transmit the virus constantly. Only those individuals (children and adults) who have an active infection would shed the virus/infect others. But I'll admit that even with the reading I've done, there's not a ton out there that puts this in layman's terms and not as much is known about those who appear to have recurrent infections. Does that make sense to you?</p> <p>And thank you for the kind words... I'm still grappling with writing it all down but I do imagine I'll post sometime soon with more about what happened to us and how we came to our decision. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/cmv-virus-in-pregnancy#post-2695271 Thu, 09 Feb 2017 23:17:35 +0000 mrsbubbletea 2695271@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Academicsocialite: one of the patient at my work with severe disability from it I always think of, and his preschool aged sibling had a classmate who coughed in mom's face (at least that's what I remember the story being, I was a brand new nurse at the time). </p> <p>I never quite understood if congenital cmv means they are always potentially transmitting the virus. I would think someone with a current active infection would be the most infectious and the most dangerous to a pregnant mom. </p> <p>Again, so sorry for your loss and I am glad you are here on HB as you get ready to share more about your difficult journey </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/cmv-virus-in-pregnancy#post-2695195 Thu, 09 Feb 2017 21:39:24 +0000 Iced Tea 2695195@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Academicsocialite: I'm so sorry for your loss. I remember at least one client with severe CP. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/cmv-virus-in-pregnancy#post-2695145 Thu, 09 Feb 2017 21:00:35 +0000 Academicsocialite 2695145@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Iced Tea: so interesting to hear your perspective. Did any of the CMV kids you worked with have other issues besides the hearing loss? I know from our pediatric neuro consult that it can also cause CP and epilepsy in severe cases. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/cmv-virus-in-pregnancy#post-2695051 Thu, 09 Feb 2017 19:57:21 +0000 Iced Tea 2695051@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I worked in a clinic setting with hearing-impaired children before becoming pregnant the first time. A number of our clients were hearing impaired due to congenital CMV infection, so I was aware of it. </p> <p>When I got pregnant, I asked for the test to see if I had been previously exposed to CMV or not. Unfortunately, I hadn't. At that point I wasn't working there anymore, but I know it would have been super stressful if I was. </p> <p>In subsequent pregnancies, I haven't been tested. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/cmv-virus-in-pregnancy#post-2694702 Thu, 09 Feb 2017 14:21:36 +0000 Academicsocialite 2694702@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@junebugsmama: yes, it's so common and yet so rare to have such severe outcomes. So I'm definitely a "worst case scenario". My regular OB was utterly flummoxed when we got the diagnosis (not exactly reassuring - I have no intention of going back to her again). </p> <p>That said, it would have been a simple test to find out if I had the antibodies in my system and if I'd known to ask - given that I have a preschooler, I would have been at slightly higher risk - I definitely would have gotten that checked. They run for other TORCH viruses like parvo, rubella, and toxoplasmosis, so I'm not sure why CMV doesn't qualify for testing. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/cmv-virus-in-pregnancy#post-2694698 Thu, 09 Feb 2017 14:17:43 +0000 newlypregnantlady 2694698@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Wow I just want to say thanks for updating this thread. I definitely didn't know about this. I know I'm not immune to chicken pox so I've been really paranoid about being around sick kids. </p> <p>@Academicsocialite: thanks for posting your experience and I'm so sorry for your loss. </p>