What to expect when you're expecting (33 page)

Don’t send your feline friends packing. Since you’ve lived with them
for a while, the chances are pretty good that you’ve already contracted the cat-related disease toxoplasmosis and have developed an immunity to it. It’s estimated that up to 40 percent of the American population has been exposed, and the rates of exposure are much higher among people who have cats that spend time outdoors, as well as among people who frequently eat raw meat or drink unpasteurized milk, both of which can also harbor. and transmit the infection. If you weren’t tested prenatally to see if you were immune, it’s not likely you will be tested now, unless you show symptoms of the disease (though some practitioners run regular tests on all pregnant women and others test only those who live with cats). If you were tested prenatally and were not immune, or if you’re not sure whether you are immune or not, take the following precautions to avoid infection:

Have your cats tested by a veterinarian to see if they have an active infection. If one or more do, board them at a kennel or ask a friend to care for them for at least six weeks, the period during which the infection is transmissible. If they are free of infection, keep them that way by not allowing them to eat raw meat, roam outdoors, hunt mice or birds (which can transmit toxoplasmosis to cats), or hang out with other cats.

Have someone else handle the litter box. If you must do it yourself, use disposable gloves and wash your hands when you’re finished, as well as after you touch your cats. The litter should be changed daily.

Wear gloves when gardening. Don’t garden in soil in which cats may have deposited feces. If you have children, don’t allow them to play in sand that may have been used by cats or other animals.

Wash fruits and vegetables, especially those grown in home gardens, rinsing very thoroughly, and/or peel or cook them.

Don’t eat raw or undercooked meat or unpasteurized milk. In restaurants, order meat well done.

Wash your hands thoroughly after handling raw meats.

Some practitioners are urging routine testing before conception or in very early pregnancy for all women, so that those who test positive can relax, knowing they are immune, and those who test negative can take the necessary precautions to prevent infection. However, public health officials believe the financial cost of such testing outweighs the benefit it may provide. Check with your practitioner to see what he or she recommends.

“How much do I really have to worry about household hazards like cleaning products and bug sprays? And what about tap water—is it safe to drink it while I’m pregnant?”

A little perspective goes a long way when you’re expecting. Sure, you’ve read or heard that cleaning products, insecticides, drinking water, and other substances around the house can be dangerous to live with, especially when you’re living for two. But the fact is that your home is probably a very safe place for you and your baby to hang out—especially if you couple a little caution with a lot of common sense. Here’s what you need to know about so-called household hazards:

Household cleaning products.
Mopping
your kitchen floor or polishing your dining room table may be tough on your pregnant back, but it’s not tough on your pregnancy. Still, it makes sense to clean with care when you’re expecting. Let your nose and the following tips be your guide:

If the product has a strong odor or fumes, don’t breathe it in directly. Use it in an area with plenty of ventilation, or don’t use it at all (what better excuse for getting your spouse to scrub the toilet?).

Never (even when you’re not pregnant) mix ammonia with chlorine-based products; the combination produces deadly fumes.

Try to avoid using products such as oven cleaners and dry-cleaning fluids whose labels are plastered with warnings about toxicity.

Wear rubber gloves when you’re using a really strong product. Not only will this spare your hands a lot of wear and tear, it’ll prevent the absorption of chemicals through the skin.

Lead.
Exposure to lead isn’t just potentially harmful to small children but to pregnant women and their fetuses as well. Fortunately, it’s also pretty easy to avoid. Here’s how: