7 days to go and I have a cold sore :-(

[fretfree]

EDD is next Monday and my body has kindly decided that a bloody great cold sore just below my nose would be the best way for me to keep myself busy.

I'm using witch hasel, which def reduces the duration, but I am worried about what might happen if it is still there when the LO arrives.

Mindful of the tragic story from 2009 re the newborn dying from a cold sore infection (although the mother experienced her first ever on delivery, which is not the case for me - had them since my teens :(), should I avoid kissing my newborn and 'get paranoid' about washing my hands? Not the sort of snugly first days I envisaged :(

Right, try this: fenistil (not Zovirax) blobbed on thickly in the morning and rubbed in around the edges but left on the middle of the scab. If it's small enough to be covered, the compeed patches are great and will help to contain the size of it. You need to clear the cream off for the patch to stick. You can get them from poundland for a fraction of the pharmacy price and they work fine.

I'd never heard of the possible complications with birth - I can see why it would be worrying for you. I had a coldsore four days before my wedding and the desperation programme above cleared it in time. You have time to get rid of the beast before the baby comes. Good luck.

It stains terribly but holding a used tea bag on the site obsessively stops the cells multiplying. It's the tannin. It is the best thing I have found and I've practiced a lot with in excess of 70 cold sores a year.

In extreme circumstances you can get oral antivirals from your GP that get rid in 5 days, or you can take them as prevention.

Yes you have to be obsessive with preventing your cold sore coming into contact with your baby.

Thanks. I've tried the compeed patches before, but find that they prolong them because the cold sore doesn't dry out.

I'll give the tea bag a go (good job I'm not going out much - guess I'd get some funny looks :))

Never heard of fenistill - and I thought I'd researched most solutions!!

Fingers crossed - hopefully I haven't left it too late to shorten the time span, as most "solutions" need action at the tingly stage.

Also just seen that avoiding foods with high levels of l-arginine is recommended.

But this includes chocolate !!! Chocolate is part of my strategy to increase my iron levels :(

I feel your pain, not due til October but I suffer with coldsores regularly.

I don't use creams as I find it makes the coldsore bigger. I spray perfume on mine. It stings but drys them out quickly. Also when using the compeed patches I remove them at night so they get the chance to dry out.
My current coldsore started as a tingle Friday afternoon and is now a dry scab, I think it will be completely gone by Wednesday. It's not contagious anymore though.
Good luck with the birth

Yes be very careful with cold sore and new baby. I have a bit of a scare story. I typed it all out but then thought better of it. You don't need to be worrying over something that will probably never happen. Just keep it well away from baby if you still have it and everything will be fine. I hope you have a really good birth x

Thanks for the support - flagnog, I read the story that was in the newspapers back in 2009 (a few threads on MN on it). Hopefully it will be gone soon, but it is huge :(

get to the GP and get an antiviral prescription if possible (not sure if OK i preg).

the last thing you need is an additional worry. it's nice to use natural methods when you can, but IMO under these circumstances it's better to get it sorted as quickly as humanly possible.

not sure if OK when* preg