Folks with Uteruses—has anyone had a Lyme-free baby?

Hey, everyone.

I was just wondering if anyone with known Lyme has given birth to a Lyme-free child post-diagnosis.

I know there are lots of cases of unknowingly transferring Lyme to the child (because the pregnancy happened before the mother was aware of infection), but my question is about pregnancy AFTER diagnosis.

I’m curious about what (if anything) you did during your pregnancy to prevent transmission. Is there any chance at all for me to have my own healthy, biological child?

I had my child before I was diagnosed with Lyme, and then nursed her for three years. She is 8yo and does not have discernible symptoms, but I assume she has Lyme. I believe that a great deal of people probably have it in their systems on some level, so it's entirely possible to have a healthy biological child who technically has Lyme and co-infection pathogens in their system. They may never have symptoms, but I assume it's always a possibility, so for my child I take great care to strengthen her immune system, teach stress management strategies, etc. That said, I never would create another child biologically.

I wholeheartedly appreciate that you said "folks with uteruses."

Thanks for your replies, everyone.

I just got engaged and my fiancé and I were chatting about my reservations regarding having our own child vs. adopting. It’s several years off, of course, but I just don’t have a whole lot of information regarding pregnancy and childbirth with Lyme.

I think it comes down to which theories you believe in terms of whether Lyme is ever fully eradicated, and what you think about adoption. We know it can morph into dormant cysts, biofilms, spirochetes, and cell wall-deficient forms in response to treatment, immune strength, stress, etc. Some believe it's possible and necessary to kill all the bugs, and some believe the goal is to strengthen your whole system to bring things into balance and keep the infections from gaining a foothold strong enough to cause symptoms. I definitely know of people who have had Lyme and who give birth to seemingly healthy babies who test negative for Lyme, for what that is worth. Others think they are cured and give birth to babies who are sick. And of course there are people who are in remission but who relapse as a result of the stress of pregnancy, birth, and newborn care, and then don't get to be the parents they hoped to be (...which is the lens from which I speak).

Adoption is an awesome thing, and in no way inferior to producing a bio kid. Sick or not, more people should consider it as a route to parenthood!

It makes sense that you and your partner are exploring the possibilities. Good luck, and I hope you enjoy the exciting process of planning your lives together.

Wisco woman said...
What about the stress on the mother. Couldnt getting pregnant make her more sick or (if she was in remission) cause her to get sick again?

I would think pregnancy could cause a flare... not just the stress...but the hormonal changes I would think.