Having kids before diagnoses

Unfortunately, there's not enough research into these infections being passed in utero or through breastfeeding. I was one of the lucky ones, in that I was pregnant and breastfed 2 kids before finding out what was wrong and getting my diagnosis (my kids were actually adults by this time) and after a few early childhood issues, they have been healthy and fine (although I still watch their health very closely!!).

There's no way to know what the chances are, we just feel like most any chance is too high to be passing something as horrid as these infections on to our kids!

This is one site that has a lot of really good information on kids with Lyme, particularly helpful for trying to determine if a young child (like yours) has these infections: /sites.google.com/site/drjoneskids/home

And, we do have a handful of mothers with sick kids on here that can also be a huge help to you! I'm sure they will be along soon to help give you some more ideas and help.

Hi Traci,

I had undiagnosed Lyme for years before my son was born. I was diagnosed when he was two, and once I understood my situation, I started seeing symptoms in my son. He started treatments shortly before his third birthday. He's five now, and our LLND believes that he is free of Lyme. He went through several different treatments (all herbal) before it resolved.

about breastfeeding... I know many LLMD's don't recommend it, as Lyme can be transmitted that way. On the other hand, I feel like breastfeeding kept my son healthier. I'm sure he was exposed to Lyme during pregnancy, and the antibodies in my milk kept him from getting sick. Before his first birthday, he had no ear infections. Then I weaned him. In the next year he had three ear infections. If I could do it over, I wouldn't have weaned so soon.

For all with kids, did you do any sort of re-testing to help know they were healed or just when symptoms waned?

It's so hard with kids to know what may just be something they pick up at school vs. lyme, etc!

In his new book, Dr. H says that it can definitely be passed from mother to child in utero and says that has been proven (despite what the CDC claims). He said the jury is still out on sexual transmission. He said that although spirochetes can be detected in vaginal secretions and semen, the numbers are so small that it makes sexual transmission near impossible.

I have no idea when I was infected. It could have been 40 years ago or a year and a half ago. I started having symptoms a year ago. My kids are 12 and almost 10. At first, I was absolutely paralyzed with fear by the thought that they may have it. But I've learned (sort of) that I can't dwell on that. As of now, they are both perfectly healthy. I'm just going to do my best to keep them that way. Even if I did pass it on to them, their immune systems may keep them from ever getting sick from it.

Hi Traci,

I'm in a similar boat, unfortunately. I'm actually awaiting results for my son (21 mos old). He has a few things that concern me, including slow growth and slow speech, has always been a spitty baby (not sure if I'd call it reflux, maybe?) and has had two febrile seizures. I have no idea if all of these things add up to Lyme, but I did decide to go ahead with the testing.

He was breastfed for 10 months. My symptoms showed up two months after his birth, but I had no idea about the possibility of Lyme until almost a year ago.

We tested through Armin Labs, which is what my LLMD recommended. I was tested through Igenex.

I also have a 4-year-old. She does not show symptoms.

Prayers for good health for you and your family!