Hi all,

I have been sick with various symptoms for almost four years. Classic story of seeing every specialist, doing ever test and imaging study available - mostly everything coming back normal. My symptoms the last year have been horrible with joint pain, swelling, neuropathies, shortness of breath, etc.

I was just diagnosed with Lyme disease finally via igenex at the end of June. Last week I found out I am pregnant. This was completely unintentional - I got pregnant before the Lyme diagnosis and I am of course terrified.

My LLMD says we can treat during the third trimester so to decrease the odds of transmission. I’ve been reading some studies on gestational Lyme and see that antibiotics help decrease transmission, but my concern is that I have gotten pregnant before I’ve been truly treated with antibiotics. I think many women in these studies were diagnosed and treated initially for Lyme before getting pregnant, and then treated again while pregnant. I am only 5ish weeks along but since I am quite symptomatic I am concerned the Lyme could already be transmitted. I am not sure my body can handle pregnancy on top of all my other symptoms from Lyme.

I am devastated, shocked and so, so sad. I want to have this baby as I am getting married and love my partner completely, but I don’t want to have the baby for selfish reasons. The thought of a little one suffering the way I have or worse is unimaginable.

Any honest feedback or experiences would be greatly appreciated. Please be kind.

Thank you.

Dr Jones is a well known Pediatric lyme Doc.

https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/2018/11/11/gestational-lyme-other-tick-borne-diseases-dr-jones/

“ Mothers not treated resulted in 50% gestational transmission compared to mothers treated with 1 antibiotic resulting in a 25% transmission. 70% of infected mothers reported a difficult pregnancy. ALL children improved with appropriate antibiotic treatment.


Antibiotic treatment for Pregnant mothers:
Amoxil 1000mg every 8 hours
Ceftin 500 mg every 12 hours
Omnicef 300 mg-600mg twice daily
Mepron 750mg twice daily
Zithromax 500mg twice daily
Other options for those who can not tolerate oral antibiotics:
Bicillin 1.2 million units IM 1-3 times weekly
Ceftiaxone 2 gms IV daily
Cefotaxime 6 gms daily either continuous infusions or 2gms IV every 8 hours”

For what it's worth, my wife and I are hoping to try and get pregnant in the next 6 months and we have talked to multiple doctors to figure out the best way to conceive safely. I think you are in a decent spot as you know you have lyme and can treat with abx during pregnancy. In addition, you can test the babies cord when born and if lyme comes up you can put the baby on baby safe abx for 6-12 months. According to Dr. J in DC (did a consolation with his practice) and have also confirmed this through my doctor, babies are much easier to treat for lyme than an adult. Their immune system is like a sponge and doesn't have the toxins an adult would have. My doctor treats a lady that has lyme terribly and had a kid who tested positive through the cord and he said they treated for one year with abx and the child is 9 now and is healthy and has never shown any symptoms. Additionally, the PA I had my consultation with at Dr. J said she has had about 100 cases of women treating with abx during pregnancy and for the ones that tested the cord at birth, she had not had one come back positive.