Coldsore and newborn

[Lils098]

I’m a first time mum to a 6 week old baby and suffer with coldsores. Just got my first one since having him and am terrified of passing it on to him after googling and reading how dangerous it can be. I’ve been wearing a coldsore patch since I felt it but worried as I will have been kissing baby the day before it appeared before I realised I was getting one!
Any advice would be much appreciated as I am so worried about it!

Hiya, if you've suffered from cold sores for ages then you will have passed some immunity to your baby via the placenta.

Usual thing - keep an eye, if you're worried he's ill, see the doctor and tell them about the coldsore.

Bless you, it's a worrying time when they are so little. x

Thank you so much! I have had them for as long as I can remember so hopefully will have passed some immunity on to him!
It really is I’m a nervous wreck!! X

Following as I’m in the exact same situation with a 3 week old, I’m a nervous wreck.

Ive been wearing a face mask as well as a compeed patch thing, and loading up on Zovirax. Although that’s making me sad because I’m sure she doesn’t recognise me as much :/

Not sure what else we can do but just to say I really share your pain right now.

The biggest risk is to babies of women who have NEVER had cold sores- so try not to worry too much. I read a lot about it as my younger dd had VERY bad (like 15-20 sores at a time) outbreaks when I had my youngest DS- he never got any- I had had the odd cold sore but enough to pass on some degree of immunity. Common sense and no kissing on face with active sores… but don’t worry so much I am sure they’ll be fine.

I have cold sores and managed never to pass it on. Baby won't have caught it from kisses the day before it appeared, there needs to be a transfer or fluid. Just avoid kisses and wash your hands lots.

This happened to us too. I get them very often. I put lots of Compede patches on to provide a barrier. We thought our son had one when he has just a few days old and we were admitted to hospital. In the end they told us to go home and keep an eye on it. The blister disappeared the next day and turned out to just be a blister from using his bottle. I am very careful when I get a cold sore. Wash hands etc. If you suspect anything phone 111 straight away. Is just one of those crappy things I think.

I had the same problem when my baby was 5 weeks old OP. I wore a cold sore patch, face mask while feeding and obviously didn’t give any kisses. I went a bit OTT and washed/ sanitised my hands until they were dry and cracked! He was absolutely fine and has never shown any signs of it being passed on (he’s now 5) and I’ve had many since then! You sound like you’re doing everything you can. Try not to worry. The stories you see online (although devastating) are rare.

Thank you so much everyone, your comments have been really helpful :-)
it’s definitely so worrying when they are so little but hoping the patches and lots of handwashing will help stop it spreading!
I think I am worried about him getting poorly from it without the obvious signs of an actual coldsore and me not noticing straight away, so will keep an extra close eye over the next few days. X

How did you get on OP/@Lils098 ?

I'm in a similar position. I get cold sores on my thumb after taking a mug from someone at work 10 years ago who had an active cold sore when I'd burnt my thumb making the tea 😭.

I now have a 4 week old baby and had multiple flare-ups in late pregnancy, which I usually only get one a year or so. I asked my doctor to prescribe acyclovir preventatively and they were funny about it because I'm breastfeeding. Now really worrying about it because I think I might have a flare-up.

I have obviously covered it with a plaster and am taking acyclovir that my doctor had given me for an emergency.

I read that the area can shead asymptomatically and so try to avoid touching my baby with my thumb in general (non-dominant hand, but nevertheless, fairly tricky) and wash my hands in general. I find it a bit of a nightmare to be honest and quiet stressful.

Anyone else have similar?