Got a Pet? What Happens Now That You Are Pregnant?

MH finds out if your beloved pet may be harmful to you and if so, what changes to make so that Mr Whiskers does not need to be booted out!

- Cindy Lim

Pet lover Shireen Tan, 26, is expecting her first child. She is both ecstatic and worried at the same time. “I have two lovely pets—a cat and a dog—who have been with me for years. I’m worried that they might pose health risks to my foetus or myself during my pregnancy but yet I can’t bear to be apart from them,” bemoans Shireen.

Shireen’s fears are not unfounded. Pets are a bundle of joy to have around and many regard them as part of the family. However, when you are expecting, not all animals are safe to be around.

Parasites and Viruses

Pets tend to carry parasites and viruses. Toxoplasmosis, in particular, is a cause for concern. It is a parasite that cats and other animals can carry and excrete in their faeces, Toxoplasmosis can cause birth defects in the first trimester or place the pregnant mother at risk for premature labour or stillbirth.

“The primary concern will be with regards to the possible spread of infections to humans from animals and its impact on the developing foetus,” explains Dr Cordelia Han, specialist in obstetrics & gynaecology, consultant, Raffles Women’s Centre.