Anyone work/live on a farm??

[kfillmore]

Anyone work with animals while pregnant? I know there must be a zillion pregnant women in the world who do but my pregnancy books scare me about Toxoplasmosis and Brucellosis. The reason I am asking is that I am TTC and (really) want to volunteer at this horse farm. 

Any thoughts about physical work?

thanks

[Hykue]

I do.  I think that agriculture has been a big part of our history for quite a while, and it doesn't worry me at all.  I don't change the cat litter box, because that hardly seems like it's been a major part of our recent history, but I think working with livestock has been going on for millenia, and pregnant women weren't exempt from the work - they couldn't be.  Just don't lick them, and I would say you'll probably be fine!

But seriously, I live in a farming community, I know a lot of women who have worked with all manner of livestock all through multiple pregnancies, and I know no-one who has ever had a complication that was related to that work.

[LivingSky]

I second what Hykue said

I own, live on and run a horse farm. The only thing to be concerned about is that you must be extremely safe and careful around the horses once you're pregnant, especially as you get further along. Most of my horses are well mannered, extremely easy to handle and used to people, especially me - but at 7 months along now, I do not handle the horses for anything that might make them jumpy. I still do most of the feeding, but someone else holds them for the farrier and any vet work. I simply can't move fast enough to get out of their way if something spooks them. And the horses don't take my expanding belly in to account when they consider my "personal space"

Like Hykue said, I don't clean the litter box for the cats any more, and when working in the gardens outside, I always wear gloves (since the outside cats have a tendency to think empty garden plots are litter boxes). I have self-limited myself as to how much weight I can lift. Other than that, life continues as normal

[tiny_farmer]

I live on a farm (though work off farm so am not too involved).  However our neighbours (dairy farm) just had a baby in April.  She did EVERYTHING right up until the day she delivered and was back in the barn in less then a week (not at full working capacity though).  If it is your lifestyle and means of life you have little choice.

[HawaiianBlesing]

I'm a pet groomer and have worked full time since day one.  Everyone cautioned me about grooming cats due to Toxoplasmosis but you have to come in contact with feces greater than 24 hours of an exposed animal.  Transmission is oral/fecal so unless you are changing the litter box then licking your hands you should have nothing to worry about.  You can just as easily get Toxoplasmosis from undercooked meat.

At 7months and change, I'm still lifting 70+ lb dogs without difficulty.  My MW tells me to continue doing what I'm used to and my body will tell me when I can no longer do it anymore.  I'm fortunate that my belly is still relatively small for my gestation so that does make it a bit easier for me. 

My cousin is also an equestrian and rode her hunters up until the point where she could no longer get on and off using the mounting block. 

I should think that you would be fine. 

[dot1]

I wouldn't worry.  I grew up on a farm - 3 siblings. We were all fine.   My brother has 3 kids and still farms (cattle).  Just wash your hands before touching your face or mouth (common sense stuff).  The horses are probably already vaccinated for the serious stuff anyway.

I've also heard that babies born to women who were exposed to farms have lower allergy rates (germ hypothesis?)....but don't quote me as I can't recall a reference off hand.  Children who grow up with a dog or at least 2 cats also have lower allergy rates, likely for the same reason. There's lots of good bacteria on farms too, which our bodies need!

[bethanyclaire]

I grew up on a farm and have had horses my entire life... along with dogs, cats, chickens, sheep, goats and more. My parents own the farm but we only live a few minutes away and I'm there all the time. I clean stalls, handle horses, throw hay bales, carry grain bags, etc. and I don't think much of it. This is my fourth pregnancy and I've done it all through all of them. I've ridden through all my pregnancies as well (though only my old, sweet horse that I've had for 20 years).

My only caveat would be that someone who is NEW to the horse world should not handle horses while they are pregnant. A lifetime of experience with horses still doesn't guarantee that an accident won't happen but it helps you to predict how a horse might react to a given situation. A plastic bag could blow by and send a normally quiet and compliant horse into a meltdown.

But, no, I can't imagine leaving farm life behind just because I'm pregnant. :)