July 2015 Moms

PSA: CMV - Cytomegalovirus and What Every Pregnant Woman Should Know

360blessings360blessings member
edited January 2015 in July 2015 Moms
I hope this is okay to post here. I have posted about this in the past. CMV (or cytomegalovirus) is relatively unheard of, and generally causes no permanent damage unless a woman contracts the virus during pregnancy. Most of us have never heard of this, and even though the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists recommend that OB/GYNs discuss CMV and prevention measures, less than 40% of OB/GYNs have reported counseling their patients. I had never heard of this, until my first son, Caleb, was stillborn at 33 weeks in 2008. I was so naive, and I was mad that I had never heard ANYTHING about CMV. Since then I have taken the time to educate myself and hopefully share my story with others. If we can help prevent one more person from passing along congenital CMV to their unborn children, it gives meaning to my son's short life.

Congenital (from birth) CMV is the leading cause of infant/childhood hearing loss. It can also cause blindness, paralysis, neurological deficits, etc. It causes more disabilities than Down Syndrome, Fetal Alcohol Syndrome and other neural tube defects. Please read and share with other women who are pregnant or planning a pregnancy. Prevention is easy and key, but you have to know about something in order to help prevent it. I did not have any other children at home (or with who I was in close contact), yet at the time I was a store manager with Babies R Us. I wish someone had told me, so now I'm telling you. I hope this is received with the good intentions behind it. I don't want anyone else to become a CMV statistic.

Thanks for letting me share.

https://www.stopcmv.org/en/support/pregnant.html


^Caleb^ - 4/13/08, stillborn at 33 weeks
^Angel 1^ - 9/2009, m/c at 4.5 weeks
Benjamin - 6/25/09, Happy and Healthy!!!
^Angel 2^ - 9/2010, m/c at 8 weeks
^Angel 3^ - 3/2011, m/c at 7.5 weeks
Nathaniel - 1/17/12, Happy and Healthy!!!

^Samuel^ - 7/11/13, m/c at 11 weeks
BFP - due 7/14/15, praying for a Happy and Healthy baby!!!

BabyFruit Ticker



Re: PSA: CMV - Cytomegalovirus and What Every Pregnant Woman Should Know

  • Thanks, I share utensils and cups with my 2 year old all the time so I will stop doing that. More information is always good. I'm sorry for your loss and applaud you for reaching out to make a difference for others.
    June 2012 Mom (2.5 yr old boy), July 2015 Mom (team green), Babywearing newbie/enthusiast
    Pregnancy Ticker


  • Thank you for sharing. I've never heard of this before either...
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  • thanks for sharing! I am so sorry for your loss!

    I think its important for people to know! I am a pediatric nurse and we often have patients with active CMV infections. Per or infectious disease team: you need to make sure you wash your hands frequently and just use proper technique when caring for these patients. 

    most people can carry the CMV virus, just dormant. i was concerned about this since I have been a nurse for quite some time. I was sure I already had it. If you already have it (per my MD) and are pregnant, youre fine because your body already has the antibodies to fight against it. Its if you contract the infection WHILE pregnant where the risk comes from. 

     I had my doctor test me so that I could know where I stand. no surprise, I have the antibodies from all my exposure through my patients.  Although it isnt a normal test they run on us, you can ask for it! It definitely gave me more peace of mind. Not that Im still not incredibly careful and freaked out at work! 


  • also to the Mods...i think this should be a sticky at the top of the page!! 
  • @360blessings‌ - well said! ((Hugs))

    On Jan 15, 2014 (can't believe we are almost at our anniversary date) we loss our son Timothy at 24w to a CMV infection.

    I also had never heard of CMV prior to my loss. I do believe that I contracted it from my 2 1/2 year old who was in day care at the time. I would share a fork with him, let him drink my water and kiss him on the lips. I didn't have a clue.

    Please read the link 360 provided, the site is full of great information.

    BFP #1 March 24, 2010; missed m/c May 26, 2010 @ 12w 4d; D&E May 28, 2010

    BFP #2 Oct 20, 2010; My little boy was born on July 5, 2011

    BFP #3 April 30, 2013; Chemical Pg May 5, 2013

    BFP #4 Aug 22, 2013; It's a boy.  Loss discovered at 24 weeks on Jan 15, 2014 (cause CMV virus)    

                                  <3 We love and miss you Timothy <3

    BFP #5 April 6, 2014; missed m/c May 15, 2014 @ 9 weeks; Misoprostol May 15, 2014; D&C May June 3, 2014

  • I'm so sorry for your loss. Thank you so much for sharing. I'm not around anyone other LOs yet but I know others who are and will spread the word.
  • bump

    ^Caleb^ - 4/13/08, stillborn at 33 weeks
    ^Angel 1^ - 9/2009, m/c at 4.5 weeks
    Benjamin - 6/25/09, Happy and Healthy!!!
    ^Angel 2^ - 9/2010, m/c at 8 weeks
    ^Angel 3^ - 3/2011, m/c at 7.5 weeks
    Nathaniel - 1/17/12, Happy and Healthy!!!

    ^Samuel^ - 7/11/13, m/c at 11 weeks
    BFP - due 7/14/15, praying for a Happy and Healthy baby!!!

    BabyFruit Ticker



  • This is an important topic to get out there. As a nurse who has worked for years with immunocompromised patients I would be shocked if I haven't already been exposed.
  • Thank you for sharing. I was not aware of this before now and appreciate the information. I'm so sorry for your loss.
  • I had no idea I could contract this from my kiddo !! I share stuff with him all the time! I always just thought this was something found in cat feces so I never worried because we don't have a cat! I will be more careful from how on. Thank you for sharing your story.
  • KKMichie said:

    I had no idea I could contract this from my kiddo !! I share stuff with him all the time! I always just thought this was something found in cat feces so I never worried because we don't have a cat! I will be more careful from how on. Thank you for sharing your story.

    Cat feces is toxoplasmosis, which is different virus pregnant women need to be careful of
  • Oh my god... I had no idea. DS started daycare about a month before I got pregnant. Now I'm terrified!

    I'm so sorry for your losses, @360blessings and @MCH77.

    Baby Birthday Ticker Ticker
    Pregnancy Ticker
  • Thanks for reading, you guys. :)

    ^Caleb^ - 4/13/08, stillborn at 33 weeks
    ^Angel 1^ - 9/2009, m/c at 4.5 weeks
    Benjamin - 6/25/09, Happy and Healthy!!!
    ^Angel 2^ - 9/2010, m/c at 8 weeks
    ^Angel 3^ - 3/2011, m/c at 7.5 weeks
    Nathaniel - 1/17/12, Happy and Healthy!!!

    ^Samuel^ - 7/11/13, m/c at 11 weeks
    BFP - due 7/14/15, praying for a Happy and Healthy baby!!!

    BabyFruit Ticker



  • @cookiesandwine‌ - kisses are the hardest thing.

    BFP #1 March 24, 2010; missed m/c May 26, 2010 @ 12w 4d; D&E May 28, 2010

    BFP #2 Oct 20, 2010; My little boy was born on July 5, 2011

    BFP #3 April 30, 2013; Chemical Pg May 5, 2013

    BFP #4 Aug 22, 2013; It's a boy.  Loss discovered at 24 weeks on Jan 15, 2014 (cause CMV virus)    

                                  <3 We love and miss you Timothy <3

    BFP #5 April 6, 2014; missed m/c May 15, 2014 @ 9 weeks; Misoprostol May 15, 2014; D&C May June 3, 2014

  • I know that's got to be the hardest thing to turn away (hugs). :(

    ^Caleb^ - 4/13/08, stillborn at 33 weeks
    ^Angel 1^ - 9/2009, m/c at 4.5 weeks
    Benjamin - 6/25/09, Happy and Healthy!!!
    ^Angel 2^ - 9/2010, m/c at 8 weeks
    ^Angel 3^ - 3/2011, m/c at 7.5 weeks
    Nathaniel - 1/17/12, Happy and Healthy!!!

    ^Samuel^ - 7/11/13, m/c at 11 weeks
    BFP - due 7/14/15, praying for a Happy and Healthy baby!!!

    BabyFruit Ticker



  • Thanks for posting this and sorry for your losses. I had no idea about this!

    image  image image

  • I asked my OB as I do have a toddler in DC. he says that they only test for it if the baby shows signs, like growth etc. He also said that I have a better chance of being hit by a truck. I wihs this testing was standard and they took it more seriously.
  • I wish it were standard or at least routinely talked about rather than waiting until it's too late. Testing and/or discussion is standard in many other countries - we just aren't there yet. And CMV causes more disabilities than Down syndrome - which is fairly often discussed and routinely screened for. :/

    ^Caleb^ - 4/13/08, stillborn at 33 weeks
    ^Angel 1^ - 9/2009, m/c at 4.5 weeks
    Benjamin - 6/25/09, Happy and Healthy!!!
    ^Angel 2^ - 9/2010, m/c at 8 weeks
    ^Angel 3^ - 3/2011, m/c at 7.5 weeks
    Nathaniel - 1/17/12, Happy and Healthy!!!

    ^Samuel^ - 7/11/13, m/c at 11 weeks
    BFP - due 7/14/15, praying for a Happy and Healthy baby!!!

    BabyFruit Ticker



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