Sunday, August 7, 2011

Listeria and Miscarriage...

We're leaving to make the drive to the city that the airport is in (we have to be there tomorrow at 5am) so I may not be posting for a few days. I had big plans for writing posts and having them post on their own while I was away from the internet, but these last few days have been a little crazy, so that went out the window.

I do have one thought that has been going through my head quite a bit... and I imagine it will continue this way for quite a while. I'm trying not to dwell on it because really we don't know. But I have an extremely bad feeling about it.

You may remember that at the beginning of July I did a post about coming down with food poisoning after the 4th of July. When I googled the food that I had eaten immediately before becoming very ill, together with food poisoning I learned that pregnant women should not eat coleslaw because of listeria. And I had pretty much every fun little listeria symptom.

I was eight weeks pregnant at the time. The baby is the size of an eight week baby.

Yesterday I learned that an estimated 60% of babies in the womb that are exposed to listeria miscarry or are stillborn.

Apparently there is a blood test that can be done, and antibiotics can be given that may help the baby, but when I went to the clinic, no one (including me) thought it was probably all that serious. And so I stayed home and drank gallons of gatorade and lost ten lbs (despite the gallons of gatorade)...

So if you do suspect food poisoning when your pregnant you may want to be a little more insistent than I was. Because 60% is a pretty scary statistic....

11 comments:

  1. Oh Cam, my heart is breaking for you. Please know that you and the baby are in my prayers.

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  2. Thank-you for the warning. I never thought me getting sick would have much of an effect on a child in my womb. You always hear that the child is protected and you just need to avoid getting dehydrated. From what you described it does sound like listeria and that your child is only 8 weeks in size gestation wise, that is pretty scary. You and your family are in my prayers.

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  3. Cam, I sort of doubt it was listeria because the symptoms came on so quickly after you'd eaten the coleslaw. That's more consistent with salmonella than listeria. In any case, if you'd had any idea that coleslaw was dangerous to eat when you were pregnant you wouldn't have eaten it. So please don't beat yourself up over that.

    In the final analysis God is in control. He loves this baby even more than you do, and He loves you and holds you in the palm of His hand. One way or another He means all of this for your good. It doesn't change the sorrow or the anxiety in many ways. I lost my first baby in the first trimester, and blamed myself for a long time. So I do understand where you're coming from. It's human to want an explanation, sometimes we get one, sometimes we never know the real reason.

    I hope your trip to Florida went smoothly and that you and the girls are now reunited with your husband. It's been a really rough month for you in so many ways. I pray that God's grace will be something that's a real reality to you in the days and weeks ahead. I have been praying for you all.

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  4. I hope you have a safe trip. You remain in my prayers.

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  5. Cam, did you tell your doctor about your suspect, that you may have had a listeria infection recently and didn't receive any antibiotic therapy? Because the duration of the infection varies, even if you are now asymptomatic, and, maybe, something could still be done to help your baby.
    I am a recently graduated physician, I'm young and have too much little experience, but maybe this would be an important information to your doctor now.
    I'm from a different country, and here we learn that Listeria infections are an important public health problem in the USA.
    I'm praying for you and your baby. May Our Lady be with you.
    Elisa.

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  6. Oh, Cam, I've been away from the computer for a few days and I'm just now catching up. You're in my prayers, for sure. I can't imagine what you're feeling right now. God bless you.

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  7. I'm behind on my blog reading. I just went through your last several posts! I'm so sorry you are having to worry and wait! Be assured of my prayers, Gods Will be done.

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  8. Cam- this is very interesting to me because my miscarriage happened after I had a nasty stomach thing that no one else in my family got (what are the odds?) Within two days of recovery, I was telling my husband that I thought something was wrong... I just didn't feel pregnant... something had changed. I guess I'll never know for sure but I appreciate you sharing this information. Still praying for you. :)

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  9. I am so sorry you're going through this. I will keep you in my prayers.
    Athena

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  10. I always try to be more optimistic, and there is that 40%. But you know your body. Just continue your prayers and know that God does not give you more than you can handle. I am still praying fo r you.

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