Kissed newborn feel cold sore tingle

[LilmissCa]

I kissed my baby (4wks old) last night on the head / forehead. Woke up this morning with a tingle in the corner of my lip like the start of a cold sore.
Would I have been contagious last night? Freaking out

I don't think kissing a baby on the head spreads cold sores buy stand to be corrected.

I think on the head will be ok try not to worry but I would ring the health advisor just to make sure and calm your nerves as its not worth risking with cold sores an newborns x

I get them a lot and had them loads in the year after baby was born as I was run down. Up to now baby hasn’t had one and I’d definitely kissed her a few times not realising I was brewing one. I think they get some immunity from you if you’re prone to them

Ah, such a worry! I have a nearly three year old and a four month old and I remember how panic stricken I would get in the early weeks, and still do sometimes. I find it helps to rationalise these things... if you contacted a medical professional what would you say? I may have a cold sore? My baby may have caught something from my cold sore? Are you ill? Are they? There is nothing that can be done for a maybe. As hard as that is. If baby is well, alert, plenty of wet and dirty nappies then don't worry and keep an eye on them. I know what you are worried about and babies can become very ill from the herpes virus, but from your post this is not happening right now. It will be fine. I should add with my first born I cried for hours after a lady in a coffee shop stroked my sons cheek. I was convinced she had a cold sore, had touched it before stroking his face, then my son had touched where she stroked and then put his hand in his mouth 🤦‍♀️ genuinely thought he would die!

Thanks everyone!!

I did call the HV for advice, she advised the little stickers .. these apparently also help contamination. Settled myself now but will keep a close eye on her!

Dread to think the panic of strangers touching her face.. at least covid has stopped that!

I had an outbreak of cold sores two weeks ago after my DD was born. I went into a spiral of hell thinking I'd given it to her. I researched and read countless scientific articles on the subject and what I found out is that a mother who has had cold sores before pregnancy pass antibodies to their baby during pregnancy and that children of mothers who have herpes are immune to getting herpes for around 18 months. The baby's who are at risk are those whose mothers have never had it or get it for first time late in pregnancy as antibodies haven't had a chance to develop and transfer across. The science is well established. Here is a good summary article:

hms.harvard.edu/news/mother-lode-protection

@thingymaboob thanks!!! That's very reassuring to know. Hope you and bubba are well