Help - panicking - newborn and cold sore

[LadyGregorysToothbrush]

I have a 2 week old baby, and I think I’m getting a cold sore. Have a tingly bit on my lip and it seems a bit raised and blistery. I’ve only ever had one cold sore before, about 3 yrs ago so not v experienced with them.

I’m utterly panicking- I know it can be v dangerous for newborns and in floods of tears. What should I do? Should I try get some tablets? Creams? See a doctor or a pharmacist?

Please help. I’ve been struggling with one thing after another since she’s been born, but this is really worrying me.

I'm not a dr and don't know the ins and outs but I just wanted to offer some reassurance that I had a cold sore when my baby was about 6 weeks, she didn't catch it (as far as I know didn't pick up the virus) and it was fine - I was just very careful about towels, not kissing her etc

Try not to worry. I get cold sores every few weeks so I've had about 6 or 7 in my 6 month old baby's life. Just wash your hands before touching the baby and avoid touching your face. Don't get creams to apply as they don't work and it will just lead to you touching your face. Same with seeing a dr. It's a waste of time as theres nothing they can do.

Really, what else can you do? Having a baby is a pretty hands on job.

95% of the population has the virus and if you get sores, they are often brought on by stress, other medical problems, etc, so I'm guessing birth/newborn days is a very common time for a women to get a cold sore.

You can get patches that accelerate healing and reduce the risk of contamination. Boots sell them.

I had a cold sore when my baby was 3 weeks. I just used the compeed patches, didn't touch my face and washed my hands often. It was absolutely fine.

I have to slightly disagree with pp about creams not working it depends on my opinion on what stage you apply the cream I constantly have cold sore cream in my house as soon as I feel the first tingle I apply it generously and it never ends up developing into a full one as it would if I didn’t apply cream. Like others have said once you have applied cream wash your hands and don’t touch it again and keep your toothbrush and everything else you have used as clean as possible , don’t kiss your baby for a good few weeks until it has gone for sure , it will be fine x

The Compeed patches are great. After dd2 I had lots of coldsores, one after the other, for weeks. I was also really aware of how dangerous they are for newborns. With hindsight, I should have gone to the doctors and asked for anti-retroviral drugs. In the newborn haze I forgot it was a thing!

Hopefully you can cover it with a patch and get no more. Until then, no kissing baby and lots of handwashing.

I got coldsore after both births. No kissing, scrupulous hand washing, no sharing towels etc. I get them often and I use cymex cream. It's the only one you can put on every hour and if I put it on when I feel the tingle and keep putting it on frequently, I can stop it developing. If it does develop it also doesn't last long with cymex and frequent applications.

I was worried about this and my gp told me that it's only really a big worry for premature babies.

Boots sell a machine which you zap them with.....ever since I bought it I've only had one and it was very mild. I don't travel anywhere without mine.

Went to 2 chemists to look for the patches to no avail. I have the Zovirax cream but hate the thought of pawing at my face constantly. Boots no longer do that zapper device either, it’s been discontinued.

The thought of not kissing my baby for weeks is actually making me cry . I feel so upset by this - it’s so unfair to get one out of the blue like this.

I thought if the mother had had them before giving birth that the baby had some immunity/protection. Is that not true?

Can you get to a gp/walk in centre today? Ask for acyclovir tablets if they give you a high dose it will get rid of it very quickly. The sooner you take it the better. Also go to Holland and Barrett and ask them about lysine tablets and they sell an ointment too.

However if you are breastfeeding obviously don't take or use anything without checking with a pharmacist.

Don't worry op, it's so common. They are brought on by stress and feeling run down etc so running around after a newborn is likely why! Supermarkets sell the compeed patches. Wash your hands plenty but I'm sure your baby will be fine. I had one when DS was tiny and get them several times a year and never had an issue.