Think MIL gave baby herpes

[Razpoot]

My MIL is an endless source of problems, so manipulative, selfish and rude. And I feel like I've just reached my boiling point now. I am feeling so upset and distraught because I just realised recently, she might have gave my 9 month old herpes. She hasn't had any symptoms are anything, but an article came up about herpes on my phone, talking about in rare cases how it can affect the brain and cause brain damage.

I suddenly remembered my MIL coming over once to take my baby to hers for a bit. Before she left, holding her, she said 'no kisses on the lips today, only the head, I have a cold sore' and kissed her on her forehead right in front of me. I had totally forgotten about this assuming it was alright at the time, but honestly a bit freaked out by the article I decided to read a bit into herpes. I knew the general gist of it but not if what she was saying was true, that it's passed only by lip kissing. Low and behold it passes through any form of contact from lips to skin, and she did it right in front of me.

I just don't know what to think or feel. I'm so furious at her for not knowing better, how dare she potentially give my child a life long disease? How could she be so irresponsible. I'm starting to feel so upset, like it's my fault too for not stopping her, I feel like a failure. somebody please just give me some sort of thoughts because I'm honestly really upset about this

The fact that she did at least acknowledge having the cold sore and express the desire to avoid passing it on (although she was misguided in then kissing your DC on the head obviously) is a good thing though?

I don't remember ever having cold sores until after my DD was born. Think I must have had the virus but it stayed dormant, and then pregnancy perhaps triggered an outbreak. Luckily I only get a small cold sore once or twice a year but they're annoying and would rather not! I've tried so hard to avoid passing it to my DC, using patches, washing my hands constantly if I have one, making sure I never kiss them, but when my son was 4 or 5 I noticed what appeared to be one tiny one in the corner of his mouth. No idea if caught from me or from school- this is the problem OP- you can be so careful and it still happens.

I know your DC is much smaller but I think the chances of becoming severely unwell are minuscule, please try not to worry.

@StrawberryLipstickStateOfMind yeah I think you and other posters are right, I'm guessing she has the assumption that it was only passed by kissing on the lips, so I don't think it was malicious. I think it's just the other things she's done that made a bit paranoid but I know really thats unreasonable thinking. Thank you for the reassurance, I think that's what I need really. I'm glad she seems fine