Genital Herpes & Pregnancy - advice from those who have experienced please

[lauren1982]

Hi! I have had GH for about 6 years. I am 33 weeks pregnant and it has been a constant worry for me throughout pregnancy. I am actually scheduled for a c-section, not because of the GH, but because I broke my pelvis a few years ago in a car accident. So, transmitting the virus via vaginal birth is not a worry for me, and you'd THINK that that would have made me feel better, but after making the mistake of Googling I discovered that the virus can actually be passed to the baby "in utero" (I thought it was only at birth). I've had MANY outbreaks during my pregnancy, no doubt on the cervix etc, and that's just a little too close to my little one for my liking. I know if you've had GH before you got pregnant, antibodies are passed to the baby to protect him, but apparently that doesn't happen until later in the pregnancy, like 28 weeks or something, so what was protecting my baby when I had outbreaks at weeks, 12, 16, 24 etc? How do I know these didn't pass through the placenta and he has been infected? I have had lots of scans confirming that baby is doing well, so I know that my fear is slightly irrational, but I just can't shake it :( I have nightmares that he's going to be born with scars all over his body where he was infected in the womb. Please tell me this is not possible and I am worrying about something that is not possible. Would love to hear from any ladies who had GH outbreaks during pregnancy and went on to have healthy babies! Thank you so much!!

I have GH both my DC are fine.

Thank you! Did you have outbreaks during pregnancy then?

My ex gave me gh in the june of 2014 and i found out i was pregnant. I told the midwife at my booking appointment i had gh and she asked if it was my first outbreak or a reccurent outbreak. I got an outbreak right before my due date and had to see the consultant but because it wasnt my first outbreak i didnt need a c section whereas if it was my first i would of. I delivered my ds naturally and he had no ill effects. Op you should be fine if you have had gh for the time you have. Good luck

I forgot to add as well as the outbreak mentioned above i also had 2 more outbreaks while pregnant

Yes, I get them the minute I'm run down.

I have GH I'd had it for around 10 years before I fell pregnant.

I had constant outbreaks from 34 weeks and took aciclovir 400mg 3x a day from that point onwards and had to see the consultant at 38 weeks but gave birth naturally without any problems.