EBB 406 - Critical Info Every Expecting Family Should Know about Cytomegalovirus (CMV) with Megan Nix, Author of Remedies for Sorrow

Congenital cytomegalovirus (CMV) is the leading infectious cause of congenital disorders in the United States, but many pregnant families have never heard of it. In this episode, Dr. Dekker is joined by author Megan Nix who shares the personal story behind her memoir, "Remedies for Sorrow," and discusses how gaps in the system leave many families unaware of this common virus. Megan shares how her daughter Anna's congenital CMV diagnosis changed her family's life and launched her years-long investigation into why such a common condition remains largely absent from prenatal education. You'll learn what CMV is, how it spreads during pregnancy, evidence-informed prevention strategies, newborn screening and treatment, and why informed consent and narrative medicine matter for families navigating pregnancy and birth.

 

(02:01) Megan's journey into motherhood and how Anna's diagnosis led her to write the book

(07:04) What congenital CMV is and why so few families know about it

(10:26) Why CMV prevention isn't routinely discussed during pregnancy

(15:40) Megan's illness during pregnancy and the missed opportunities for diagnosis

(18:00) Antiviral treatment for newborns with congenital CMV

(22:50) Steps pregnant families can take to reduce CMV exposure

(25:55) Newborn screening for CMV and the current landscape of universal testing

(32:16) Hearing screening, progressive hearing loss, and why early diagnosis matters

(34:05) Parenting a child with developmental delays and what Anna has taught their family

(40:11) Finding her voice, self-advocacy, and overcoming the culture of silence

(46:41) Megan's final advice for pregnant families and where to learn more

 

Resources

Get your copy of "Remedies for Sorrow": penguinrandomhouse.com/books/704982/remedies-for-sorrow-by-megan-nix/

Learn more about the National CMV Foundation: nationalcmv.org/

EBB 185 – The History of Narrative Medicine and Childbirth with Tyler Jean Dukes

 

For more information about Evidence Based Birth and a crash course on evidence based care, visit www.ebbirth.com. Follow us on Instagram and YouTube! Ready to learn more? Grab an EBB Podcast Listening Guide or read Dr. Dekker's book, "Babies Are Not Pizzas: They're Born, Not Delivered!" If you want to get involved at EBB, join our Professional membership (scholarship options available) and get on the wait list for our EBB Instructor program. Find an EBB Instructor here, and click here to learn more about the EBB Childbirth Class.