Mice and pregnancy - who knew?

mattandlora

We live out in the country. This time of year, it is common to get mice. They all flee the fields when the farmers plow. As usual, we have them again. We started hearing them earlier this week and put out traps. We've caught 3 today. As usual, there's always an 'ew' factor as we clean through the pantry and kitchen drawers to throw out what they've been into.

We were doing that tonight, then something in the back of my head made me wonder if I should be doing it while pregnant. So of course I googled it, No, absolutely not, I should not be doing this while pregnant. Although rare, some mice carry a virus which can cause all kinds of problems to the unborn baby. I'll spare you the awful details. Needless to say, I am done cleaning in the kitchen and feel terrible for my husband. I also wonder how much risk I exposed myself to before tonight! 

No sense in worrying about unknown things I can't control. I just thought I'd give the rest of you a heads up!

(And for the record, there's two main reasons we don't have a cat: allergies, and coyotes in the neighborhood)

mandyreads

We get them too...thankfully just in our garage. And don't forget the hantavirus. It is a nasty disease brought on by those cute little mice with the cute little ears. Disgusting buggers.
I am begging for a cat but hubs ain't having it.

mandyreads

And we have a hamster and never paid it any mind before....but apparently they carry something at times that can be harmful. Geee whiz. Here I am 9 wks away from having baby and just thought to look it up. And guess who cleans the cage?

mattandlora

@mandyreads - I know all about hantavirus, thanks to a bioterrorism project I had to do way back in school. Guess which organism my group got assigned..... (I'm sure some terrorist cell is sitting around going "Ebola? No. Smallpox? No. Let's use Hantavirus!") Fortunately we're not in a part of the country where we have to worry about that one! I think it is mostly in the southwest / 4 corners area.

What I didn't know about, until today, was the congenital lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV). It is rare, but found across the country. Hopefully not in my kitchen, but I guess it's too late to worry about that now.

NeonNoon

We get rats, mice, and squirrels going through our attic.  I guess it's part of living in a not-so-well-sealed townhouse in a big city.  DH wears a respirator mask and gloves to dispose of the occasional dead one.  I would do it only if it were a matter of life and death.. lol.  Thankfully, we've never had any in our main living spaces.

mandyreads

@mattandlora‌ Yes! That is what I found that hamsters can carry. I think the risk is low with ours. But it is still scary. Yuck. Yuck.

niknak1208

Yikes!!!  I can't stand mice. I give you credit for even doing that to begin with.. pregnant or not.. I would be skipping out either way.