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I Delivered A Baby 9 Weeks Ago Which Weighted About
Question: I delivered a baby 9 weeks ago which weighted about 2.0 kg at birth. I just got a maternal blood report which was taken during baby’s umbilical cord banking at the time of baby's delivery. The report said that my (maternal) serum is reactive for both for CMV IgG and IgM. I am very scared. Please suggest me is this a concern and what to do the next?
Brief Answer:
Congenital infection quite likely
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for using the 'Ask a Doctor' service.
It is indeed concerning that the maternal IgM and IgG for CMV is positive. It can lead to certain congenital problems commonly referred to as Congenital cytomegalovirus infection. Problems include low birth weight (already present), smaller head size, seizures, problems involving liver and spleen, hearing loss, vision impairment, delayed milestones, and varying degrees of learning disability.
A diagnosis of congenital CMV infection can be made if the virus is found in an infant's urine, saliva, blood, or other body tissues during the first week after birth but that window has already passed. Up to 80% may go onto show signs of prenatal infection in later life. The condition is therefore concerning and you need to visit a pediatrician and express the concerns to him. He would be able to evaluate the child and follow it up.
Feel free to write back.
Regards
Congenital infection quite likely
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for using the 'Ask a Doctor' service.
It is indeed concerning that the maternal IgM and IgG for CMV is positive. It can lead to certain congenital problems commonly referred to as Congenital cytomegalovirus infection. Problems include low birth weight (already present), smaller head size, seizures, problems involving liver and spleen, hearing loss, vision impairment, delayed milestones, and varying degrees of learning disability.
A diagnosis of congenital CMV infection can be made if the virus is found in an infant's urine, saliva, blood, or other body tissues during the first week after birth but that window has already passed. Up to 80% may go onto show signs of prenatal infection in later life. The condition is therefore concerning and you need to visit a pediatrician and express the concerns to him. He would be able to evaluate the child and follow it up.
Feel free to write back.
Regards
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Kampana
Dear Dr. Diptanshu XXXXXXX
Thank you very much for your answer. I delivered the baby 3 weeks before the expected date i.e. prematurely and currently breastfeeding and also giving baby powder milk. Do I need to stop breastfeeding the baby? May maternal infection may be confirmed again? Is there no lab test to examine the baby for Congenital cytomegalovirus infection after bypassing the one week window. Is there any cure/treatment like antiviral therapy for this and where it is available. Please advise me the best I can do for my baby.
Thanks,
Regards
Thank you very much for your answer. I delivered the baby 3 weeks before the expected date i.e. prematurely and currently breastfeeding and also giving baby powder milk. Do I need to stop breastfeeding the baby? May maternal infection may be confirmed again? Is there no lab test to examine the baby for Congenital cytomegalovirus infection after bypassing the one week window. Is there any cure/treatment like antiviral therapy for this and where it is available. Please advise me the best I can do for my baby.
Thanks,
Regards
Brief Answer:
Get the child clinically evaluated by a local pediatrician
Detailed Answer:
Please do continue exclusively breast feeding the baby till 6 months of age. Let me emphasize on the fact that breast milk is the best possible milk for a baby and there can be no alternatives for the same. Most formula milks are cow milk based and hence difficult to digest. Moreover they make the child more prone to complications and infections. Mother's breast milk is produced on the demand of the baby. Hungrier the baby, more vigorous is the suck. More is the suck, more is the amount of breast milk produced. Giving formula automatically reduces the demand of the baby and thereby the production of breast milk. All you need to do is to switch back to exclusive breast feeding and the production will increase automatically. All you need to do is to monitor the urine output. If the frequency is more than 6 times in 24 hours, you would know that the amount of feeding is adequate. If the amount of passage of urine is less or if the child is lethargic you would need to take the child to a doctor without delay.
I do not suppose that you need to confirm maternal infection again. In case the maternal infection occurred prior to pregnancy or after a certain period of pregnancy, it is not likely to impact the pregnancy or fetus. In the child, I would first ask for a thorough evaluation. Take the child to a pediatrician and he will do the needful. Antiviral therapy at this stage will not help.
Regards
Get the child clinically evaluated by a local pediatrician
Detailed Answer:
Please do continue exclusively breast feeding the baby till 6 months of age. Let me emphasize on the fact that breast milk is the best possible milk for a baby and there can be no alternatives for the same. Most formula milks are cow milk based and hence difficult to digest. Moreover they make the child more prone to complications and infections. Mother's breast milk is produced on the demand of the baby. Hungrier the baby, more vigorous is the suck. More is the suck, more is the amount of breast milk produced. Giving formula automatically reduces the demand of the baby and thereby the production of breast milk. All you need to do is to switch back to exclusive breast feeding and the production will increase automatically. All you need to do is to monitor the urine output. If the frequency is more than 6 times in 24 hours, you would know that the amount of feeding is adequate. If the amount of passage of urine is less or if the child is lethargic you would need to take the child to a doctor without delay.
I do not suppose that you need to confirm maternal infection again. In case the maternal infection occurred prior to pregnancy or after a certain period of pregnancy, it is not likely to impact the pregnancy or fetus. In the child, I would first ask for a thorough evaluation. Take the child to a pediatrician and he will do the needful. Antiviral therapy at this stage will not help.
Regards
Note: For further queries related to your child health, Talk to a Pediatrician. Click here to Book a Consultation.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Kampana
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