Cytomegalovirus (CMV) is one of the most common viruses in the world: >50% of Americans contract it by age 40, and 1 out of 3 children has it by age 5. Thankfully, it is usually harmless, with no signs or symptoms and no long-term effects…
…EXCEPT for babies who become infected before they are born, also known as congenital CMV, which affects around 1 in 200 newborns. Research has found evidence of CMV infection in up to 15% of stillbirths.
The #StopCMV campaign was created by the National CMV Foundation.
CMV & PREGNANCY
Around 1 out of 200 babies are born with Congenital Cytomegalovirus (Congenital CMV), making it the most common infectious cause of birth defects in the US, according to the CDC.
1 in 5 babies with congenital CMV will suffer from long-term health problems, most commonly hearing loss, which may progress from mild to severe over the first two years of the child's life. In addition, CMV may be responsible for up to 15% of stillbirths and is associated with damage to the placenta which is dangerous to your baby.
Despite this, over 90% of parents have never heard of CMV, which is not surprising considering that less than half of OBs report routinely educating their patients about the risks.
The CMV virus is only harmful to pregnancy when it is active, for example:
when you catch it for the first time (also known as a primary infection)
if it is reactivated (called a recurrent infection) because your immune system is weakened during pregnancy, or
if you have been infected again by a different strain of CMV (called reinfection)
A primary infection is the most likely form of congenital CMV transmission, and you are most likely to pass CMV to your baby the later in your pregnancy you are infected. Thankfully, the risk of your baby developing serious defects as a result of CMV infection appears to be lowest in the 3rd trimester, even though transmission rates are higher.
PREVENTING CMV INFECTION IN PREGNANCY
CMV is passed like many viruses through bodily fluids. For pregnant women in particular, the most likely source of CMV infection is through the saliva or urine of a toddler, as 1 in 3 children in the US will contract CMV by the age of 5. This is especially true for mothers of small children and those who work in childcare or early education settings.
The good news is that you can reduce your risk of CMV infection during pregnancy using the same strategies that you already know to protect yourself against the common cold, flu, and other communicable diseases:
Don’t share food, utensils, drinks, or straws with others
Kiss your kids on the forehead to avoid saliva and be careful handling pacifiers
Wash your hands frequently (for example, after changing diapers, wiping a little one’s nose/mouth, or handling their toys and food)
IS THERE A CMV VACCINE?
While several potential CMV vaccines are in the research and development stage, unfortunately they are all at least 5-10 years away from being routinely available. This means that at this time, there is no CMV vaccine available to prevent congenital cytomegalovirus (CMV).
SCREENING FOR CMV
Prenatal healthcare providers in the US do not routinely screen pregnant parents or newborns for CMV, despite the fact that CMV testing is cheap and carries no risks, as it requires only a simple blood draw from the mother or saliva, urine, or blood from the newborn.
The National CMV Foundation recommends that all pregnant-capable people learn their CMV status before they start trying to conceive. Depending on your level of risk (as determined by whether you have never had CMV, have had a recent CMV infection, or have had a past CMV infection), your doctor may recommend you take precautions to avoid CMV infection, request additional monitoring to check your baby for signs of congenital CMV infection, or agree to additional maternal CMV screening as part of your normal blood tests over the course of your pregnancy.
If your baby has contracted CMV in utero, early detection is key, so never hesitate to ask your healthcare provider to check your status. Research indicates that routine CMV screening can improve outcomes, and there are promising emerging interventions during pregnancy or after birth to help monitor and treat babies who contract congenital CMV – but only if you know an infection has occurred!
As always, we urge you to speak with your doctor about any questions or concerns you may have (see #AlwaysAsk) and advocate (don't hesitate to #UseYourMomVoice!) for whatever tests or monitoring you need to feel reassured during pregnancy. Remember, you are the authority on your own pregnancy!
REMEMBER: No one knows your baby or your body better than YOU! Trust your instincts, and when in doubt, get checked out.
READY TO LEARN MORE? There's plenty more #empoweredpregnancy goodness where that came from! Head back to the Empowered Pregnancy Overview to for even more empowerment. #UnitedWePush