Herpes type 1 - cold sore virus

[Themilkyboobsareonme]

I'm a bit concerned and am posting this in pregnancy and childbirth.

I have had outbreaks of the cold sore virus on my mouth and down below. Not for some time tho and not in this pregnancy. I was advised by Mw that I would need to see a consultant at some point as if I have a vaginal birth and there is an outbreak there is a risk to baby.

I have since asked Mw as I am now 36 weeks and have been fobbed off. Not been referred to a consultant and was told to ask a dr as its "really their call" if I should be taking a suppressant for the last few weeks just in case.

Not sure what to do now, should I make an appmt with my gp? I read that if you have had an outbreak pre pregnancy then some antibodies will have passed on to baby and its only if its your first outbreak that you should worry. Like I said I don't have one now I'm just concerned in case it is passed on to baby.

Sorry for the long blurb, I'm worrying myself stupid.

[PurpleGentian]

I don't have any experience of this, but given what you've said, I'd be making an appointment with the GP, and explaining what the MW originally said about the risks, about you needing to see a consultant at some point, and about it being a dr's call as to whether you take a suppressant.

Is it the MW who originally told you about the risks a different MW to the one who is fobbing you off?

[mayhew]

If you have no recent outbreaks our local practice is that you need no treatment. However, if you feel one starting, you need prompt acyclovir by mouth. It is usually effective. In my area, the quickest way to see a knowledgable clinician who will prescribe is via the GUM clinic (genitourinary medicine) as the obs clinic can be slow to access. Another route is maternity triage or day assessment unit.

Herpes virus is nasty for newborns and can make them very ill. Kissing them with a cold sore is also dangerous. So check your visitors. If you have a active lesion vaginally at the time of birth, then cs is recommended.

[ZuleikaD]

Genital herpes can be a nasty risk for the baby if you have live sores at the time of birth - as mayhew said, it would mean a CS, so preventative acyclovir is recommended throughout the last weeks of your third trimester here. Definitely talk to your GP immediately and you will probably be prescribed 400mg tablets twice a day - you should really be taking it already. If you've had it before then you shouldn't need a referral to the GUM clinic as it'll already be in your notes and you'll have had acyclovir before. Acyclovir is perfectly safe during pregnancy and breastfeeding. But definitely see your GP on an emergency basis pronto.