Ep5. Sharing food with toddlers during pregnancy? What’s the risk when pregnant? The CMV Episode. Expert Guest: Professor Hermione Lyall
In Episode 5, we dive into a question many expectant parents ask but rarely get a clear answer to: Is it safe to share food, cups, or utensils with a toddler when you’re pregnant?
To help us untangle the science from the stress, we’re joined by Professor Hermione Lyall, Consultant in Paediatric Infectious Diseases and one of the UK’s leading experts on congenital cytomegalovirus (CMV).
CMV is common, usually mild, and often misunderstood. But during pregnancy, it can pose risks to the developing baby, making everyday interactions with young children (who are the most frequent carriers) an important but sensitive topic.
In this episode, we explore:
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What CMV actually is and why it matters particularly in pregnancy
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Why toddlers are the main source of CMV exposure and how transmission happens
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What the real risks are when pregnant people share food, drinks, dummies, or cutlery with young children
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Which practical steps genuinely reduce risk—without creating fear, guilt, or unrealistic rules for families
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What current evidence and UK guidelines say, and what’s still uncertain
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How to balance normal family life with sensible infection-prevention habits
Professor Lyall brings clarity, nuance, and empathy to a topic that often leaves people anxious or confused. Whether you’re pregnant, planning a pregnancy, or supporting someone who is, this episode offers grounded, compassionate guidance to help you make informed decisions while living everyday life with little ones.
Whilst no information is perfect, it changes, we have done our best to bring together information to the best of our knowledge. Information is always subject to change. The views here are our own and do not represent that of any institution or affiliated body although we do discuss public health guidance in general. It is always important to discuss anything we talk about with your own healthcare provider. This is not direct personal medical advice as you are not our patients however, we want to give the public the information we already have, so you are more informed to make your own choices.
Disclaimer: Remember we are sharing our opinions and medical knowledge, and not associated with our affiliations. Note that knowledge evolves over time. Note that this is not direct medical advice as we are not your personal doctors however feel free to share any ideas expressed with your own healthcare professional as needed. This episode is unsponsored and received no financial incentive.
