Come out in a cold sore and breastfeeding

[jmrpinkie]

Hi all. I’m in a bit of a panic. I have a 5 week old baby and last night felt a bump on my lip and this morning it’s def looking like a cold sore.

I wasn’t and tbh never kiss my baby on the lips but of course I cuddle her and touch my lips and then her and delatch her with my fingers. I have now convinced myself that I’ve given her this virus and feel I need to take her to the doctor. I will obviously be incredibly careful moving forward but has this happened to anyone else?

I thought the babies got some sort of immunity if you had one when pregnant. Might be confused though

I didn’t have any when pregnant though so if it was true it wouldn’t apply to me.

Oh.
I suffer from cold sores terribly.
Even when I was breastfeeding both my children and it never occurred to me to take other of them to a Drs appointment because I had a cold sore.

What do you think the Dr will do out of curiosity?

I just made sure I washed my hands as I would normally do when I had a cold sore brewing or appearing.

I assume that was correct as neither of mine have ever had a cold sore.

After dd2 was born I had a bout of coldsores and still breast fed her. Washed my hands regularly, I used those patches, obviously no chance of us using the same towls or cups and I didn't kiss her at all. As the coldsores were on my face it was easy to avoid spreading it. Obviously if you have kissed your dc get to the doctors. You could always ask for antivirals for yourself too.

Coldsores are very dangerous for newborns, that's why OP is worried.
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/neonatal-herpes/

Oh I’m sure they would do absolutely nothing only advise me to keep doing what you’ve said and keep an eye on her.

it’s more that it came on yesterday - I’ve never had a cold sore so I didn’t realise that’s what it was till today so I feel I probably wasn’t being as careful with hand washing etc as I obviously now will be. I know I can’t do anything about it now I’m just worried I’ve given her the virus I guess. She’s already got some kind of a cold.

Most importantly, you are doing fab, now you know you are doing everything right, wash your hands especially when it blisters and weeps.
Other than that, crack on with doing your best.

The hardest thing without a doubt is avoiding kissing those gorgeous scrumptious new born cheeks. It’s agony!

Thank you. Gosh i felt I’d avoided the post partum anxiety but this one got me good. I’ve got some of the patches but just need to try and reset because I’m scared to touch her.

My mum had very severe cold sores all her life. I've never once had one. There must have been a point in my childhood when she kissed me when she was brewing one. When I was a child, a danger of them wasn't widely known. I've still never had one.

What do you think the doctor's going to do?

It happened to me several times with both of my babies. I get them more when run down. I avoided kissing them or letting them touch the affected area.

https://www.compeed.co.uk/cold-sore/products/compeed-cold-sore-discreet-healing-patches/?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=CN%7ECompeed+Cold+Sore+Pmax_AC%7EUnited+Kingdom_MK%7EGB_BU%7ESKC_SC%7ECS_MB%7ECOMP_CA%7ESEA_CU%7ERTL_CH%7ESEA_YQ%7E26Q1Q4_OB%7ECON_PK%7ECLK_KT%7EGeneric_LG%7EENGB_FF%7ENA_ID%7EOSB0003DRU&aa_creativeid=Cj0KCQiA4pvMBhDYARIsAGfgwvz42gzxLK5mXyNbpyfGAXZo178cilr0F1TciE8DSQs_pVRorX8CD_AaAnpUEALw_wcB&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=22109836015&gbraid=0AAAAAChoFIIDKnFB8XptYB1WTW2xVLmUP

These keep them covered, reduce pain and healing time. I now keep a spare in my purse for when I feel a tingle.

Your GP will be able to prescribe aciclovir tablets which will speed up the cold sore healing

This. What would you think a doctor would do?

It is skin to skin contact that spreads HSV so if you take the necessary precautions, you should be fine. Keep it covered and ensure good hand hygeine. Just a note as your post said you didn't kiss her on the lips - you don't have to kiss people on the lips specifically for them to contract HSV, any contact can spread it.

If you have a cold sore, I think there's a good chance that you have had an oral herpes infection before. The primary infection is often much worse than the recurrence, which manifests as a localised cold sore. But the primary infection can also be asymptomatic. So there's a chance you would have passed antibodies on to your baby while you were pregnant.

Either way, the best you can do is practice good hand hygiene etc as you say. And if you're worried, I'd put an eConsult in with your GP surgery. I'm sure someone will at least ring you with some advice. 💐

(I'm not a health professional, but cold sores were something I worried about when I was pregnant (I suffer from OCD).)

You might find this article helpful.

https://www.babycentre.co.uk/a557527/cold-sores

I think it's only a life threatening issue if it's your first cold sore ever, as it means you don't have any immunity to pass to the baby. Obviously take precautions because you don't want your baby to get one. I am assuming that it isn't your first one?I would seek advice if you're worried. My mum has cold sores and I have never had one.

I had a cold sore while breastfeeding my first. He was a few weeks over but I was so worried. I spoke to the chemist who was really helpful. I was very careful with hand washing I did not kiss home for several weeks. DS is almost 15 and has never had a cold sore.

That being said no harm in going to the GP.

I had exactly the same panic / anxiety and my baby was even younger than yours when it happened. A friend of mine was working on an obstetrics ward and asked a doctor what to do - they said not to worry as my baby would be protected via my antibodies. Obviously continue to maintain good hygiene (hand washing, keeping them well away from your cold sore etc.). That was my first baby; I've now got 3 kids and none of them have it. I've also now not had a cold sore for a few years. Good luck and congratulations on your baby xxx

Thanks everyone. Glad I’m not alone. Keeping an eye and still using the patches.

@AzureRosethey can be very dangerous for tiny babies. Look up neo natal herpes. If a baby contracts it, antivirals are given.
op I’d stick a patch on it and carry on with good hand hygiene, sounds like you’re doing everything right. but if baby did happen to become poorly make sure medical staff know about the cold sore x

I’ve three sons, breastfed all of them, still feeding my youngest. I kiss them all day long and co-sleep/slept with them all. I get loads of cold sores.
they have never ever once gotten a cold sore from me.
once I realise I have one I try my best not to kiss them especially their lips, keep washing my hands and I put a dressing on my lip. (Eg compeed )
boob on mamma and try not to worry !

Hi can I ask what happened? I think I just got my first ever cold sore and I have a newborn

Oh I’m sorry lovely. It’s so stressful. Thankfully everything was fine. I did end up taking her to the doctor as I was worried about a new rash on her bum that didn’t look like nappy rash but it was completely fine and unrelated. The doctor really reassured me.

I basically avoided kissing her anywhere until it had completely gone. I used the patches religiously which just generally were amazing. And washed my hands religiously too.