>>> THERE ARE A LOT OF DO'S
AND DON'Ts THAT COME ALONG
WITH BEING PREGNANT,
INCLUDING A CHORE PEOPLE DO
AT THEIR HOMES ON DAILY
BASIS.
JUDITH SCHULER, CAN WOMEN
CLEAN OUT THE KITTY LITTER
WHILE THEY'RE PREGNANT?
ARE WE JUST TRYING TO GET
OUT OF THE CHORE?
>> NO.
WE ADVISE WOMEN NOT TO
CHANGE THE KITTY LITTER D
TO A PARASITE CALLED
TOXOPLASMOSIS.
IF YOUR CAT IS INFECTED,
THEN WHEN YOU CHANGE THE
KITTY LITTER, YOU MAY COME
IN CONTACT WITH IT, BECAUSE
IT IS FOUND IN CAT FECES.
NOW, LET ME CLARIFY ONE
THING: I'VE, IN MY
RESEARCH, HAVE FOUND THAT IF
YOU HAVE A CAT THAT LIVES
INDOORS EXCLUSIVELY, NEVER
GOES OUTSIDE, YOU PROBABLY
HAVE LESS OF A CHANCE OF
GETTI TOXOPLASMOSIS,
HOWEVER, IT'S A GOOD WAY TO
HAVE SOMEBODY ELSE CHANGE
THE KITTY LITTER.
>> I WAS GOING TOSAY!
AND IF BY CHANCE SOMEBODY
DOESN'T TAKE THIS
PRECAUTION, HOW SERIOUS
WOULD AN INFECTI LIKE THAT
BE?
>> IT COULD BE VERY SERIOUS.
YO R CAT WON'T ANY
SYMPTOMS.
IF YOU GET IT, YOU WON'T
HAVE ANY SYMPTOMS.
BUT IT CROSSES THE PLACENTA,
AND THAT'S WHERE THE
PROBLEMS COME IN.
>> SO WE WON'T KNOW IF OUR
CAT HAS IT, JUST BY VISUAL,
WE WON'T KNOW IF WE HAVE IT.
IS THAT SOMETHING THAT YOU
NEED TO LET YOUR DOCTOR
KNOW, THAT I HAVE CHANGED
THE KITT LITTER --
>> WELL, IT'S SOMETHING, IF
YOU FEEL YOUR CAT MIGHT HAVE
PROBLEM, IT MIGHT BE
BETTER TO HAVE THE CAT
CHECKED FIRST
WOMEN DON'T HAVE SYMPTOMS
WITH TOXOPLASMOSIS.
BECAUSE IT CROSSES THE
PLACENTA, IT CAN CAUSE
MISCARRIAGE, EARLY BIRTH.
IF A BABY IS BORN WITHIT,
THEY COULD HAVE LOW BIRTH
WEIGHT, EYE DAMAGE, ANEMIA,
JAUNDICE.
THERE ARE SO MANY THINGS
THAT YOU CAN AVOID BY
AVOIDING CHANGING THE KITTY
LITTER.
SO THE BEST THING HERE IS TO
TAKE PRECAUTIONS AND NOT
EXPOSE YOURSELF IF POSSIBLE.
>> BESIDES JUST NOT DOING
THAT CHORE, ARE THERE OTHER
SANITARY MEASURES THAT WE
CAN DO?
>> THERE ARE.
DON'T CHANGE THE KITTY
LITTER.
WE DON'T WANT YOU TO LET
YOUR CATS ON THE COUNTERS OR
TABLES.
IF THEY DO GET ON THE
COUNTERS OR TABLES, WASH
THEM WITH BLEACH.
WHEN YOU PET YOUR CAT, WASH
YOUR HANDS WITH SOAP AND
WATER AFTERWARD.
CATS SCRATCH THEMSELVES
AFTER THEY'VE USED THE
LITTER BOX.
YOU'VE GOT TO BE CAREFUL
THERE.
BE CAREFUL OF
CROSS-CONTAMINATION OF FOODS
WHEN YOU'RE COOKING.
DON'T EAT UNDERCOOKED MEAT
TOXOPLASMOSIS CAN BE FOUND
IN UNDERCOOKED LAMB, PORK,
AND VENISON.
THOSE THREE CARRY IT THE
MOST.
THE BEST THING IS TAKE CARE
OFYOURSELF, AND AVOID
EXPOSING YOURSELF IF
POSSIBLE.
THE BEST WAY TO DEAL WITH IT
IS TO NOT EXPOSE YOURSELF OR
YOUR BABY TO THE PROBLEM.
>> WELL, THAT'S EXACTLY WHY
WE HAVE YOU ON, THINGS WE
DON'T THINK ABOUT.
EVERYONE HEARS DON'T CHANGE
THE KITTY LITTER, B THE
OTHER MEASURES, I'LL BET
PEOPLE DIDN'T THINK ABOUT
THAT.
>> AND THEY DIDN'T KNOW WHY.
BUT NOW THEY KNOW.
>> TO LEARN MORE ABOUT YOUR
PREGNANCY, CHECK OUT