Cold sore & newborn

[Dusty12345]

Hi all, I am after some advice please. I have an 8 week old baby and have come out in a cold sore outbreak.

Google says that cold sores can be fatal for newborns if they catch it, and not to let anyone with a cold sore hold your baby. So what am I supposed to do being her mum and primary caregiver?

I’m washing my hands and not kissing her. But I’m terrified of her catching it. I’m worried I’ve accidentally touched my face and not realised, even doing the dishes I am touching things that have been on my lips. My hands are raw from washing them and I don’t know what to do! I’m using the compeed plasters to cover it but it’s not helping with my stress.

Has anyone else had a cold sore with a newborn? Thanks in advance!

Compeed patches and ring your GP and if you can get Aciclover tablets. They shorten a cold sore outbreak down to 2/3 days for me.

I had a cold sore when my baby was 3 days old i was scared shitless. I only touched my baby with freshly washed hand and always wore a mask when touchingmy baby. Didn't want to take any chances

I have one right now too. I've had a few since my son (who is now 4) was born and I haven't passed him to him so far 🤞🏻🤞🏻. My one year old daughter puts her fingers in my mouth when she feeds so I'm so panicked about that. I obviously stop her but sometimes she's really quick so a lot of hand wiping going on!

Oh and get patches and a see a gp.

If it makes you feel better, my SILs MIL suffers with them, and was CONSTANTLY kissing my SILs newborn baby. He's absolutely fine (luckily), but my SIL was always on edge, but too polite to say anything 😔

Obviously still be careful, but to stress less about it! She'll be fine 🙂

OP - this article says baby has your immunity for 6 months but also that after 4 weeks complications are unlikely.

Do talk to GP if you need to.

www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/322620#treatment

@Notdoingthis

I had a coldsore when I gave birth! I was told not to kiss my baby.

Same here. I asked the midwife and she said not to worry and just to not kiss baby on the face. It was fine.

Thanks so much everyone for your advice and reassuring words! I went out earlier and bought some disposable single use gloves, as my hands are bleeding from washing them so much!

It’s a scary time as it is looking after a precious newborn, and it’s scary to think a cold sore could harm them in any way! I didn’t even know this was possible until I had a baby!

I’ve been 10 years without a cold sore, think it has happened due to lack of sleep!

Yes it's because you are run down and surely baby will have been exposed in utero so likely fine. It sounds stressful I would be nagging the.doctor for anti virals. Aciclovir. If anything to make you less stressed and give you more time to enjoy baby

Warning if you speak to the midwives you might get some odd advice but hopefully would just signpost to GP.

Hi just to say I’ve had about four huge cold sores since dd was born. She’s one. Drove myself MAD worrying she was going to get one and read all the scary stuff online. I wasn’t breastfeeding either. She so far had not had one. I’ve managed to get my GP to prescribe me oral acyclovir now.
Did you have one when you were pregnant at all? If so baby will get antibodies from that

Giving birth is a huge strain on the body, whether vaginally or by section, as is having a newborn. No wonder women are run down afterwards, and so just in the state when a coldsore will pop up! Hopefully it will heal quickly OP and I would think your baby is past the dangerous stage anyway as I think that's mostly with neonates.

I hope you can get as much sleep as baby allows -- and make sure you are eating decently and drinking enough water, too, especially now it's getting cold. If your DP can take a couple of days off to let you rest that's more than worth it if you're getting run down.

Please just get the patches , it covers them up then they can't hurt your baby plus it will be gone by Saturday ! All sorted !

You can’t do more than you are doing so I would be vigilant but try not to worry.

Can I recommend aciclovir tablets for clearing the outbreak up quickly? GP can prescribe but I get it on private prescription from Superdrug. It really helps to shorten the outbreak but you need to take it asap. Costs about £10 a course.

I developed a cold sore when my baby was 2 days old. I just kept my face away from his , kept my hands clean and touch wood he didn't get infected .

My GP won’t prescribe acyclovir tablets as she says they are too expensive. Lysine tablets from Holland and Barrett and licorice lip balm have helped me prevent outbreaks.

@Cheesymonster

My GP won’t prescribe acyclovir tablets as she says they are too expensive. Lysine tablets from Holland and Barrett and licorice lip balm have helped me prevent outbreaks.

That’s ridiculous.

You can buy them from the online pharmacies. I’ve had them from Superdrug, Dr Fox and Lloyds over the years (they deliver next day and I have a habit of feeling breakouts start at 4pm on a Friday!)

It was years ago tbf that she told me this - but I didn’t know that, so thank you so much I will check that out.

Yeah I get mine from Superdrug. It's an amazing drug, clears up an outbreak in a day or two