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Original poster

Genital herpes and pregnancy

31 replies

Courtney10891 · 05/08/2019 10:53

hi guys,
i have herpes now for 6 years. during my first pregnancy i had a handful of outbreaks in the beginning but they luckily stopped and i was able to have a vaginal birth. this is my second pregnancy now and its different. i had no outbreaks until i turned 27 weeks. i got an outbreak that went and then a couple days later another would pop up and so on. im now freaking out. why is this happening? should i push for a c section? im going on antivirals from 36 weeks but what if they dont stop me getting outbreaks? anybody have any advice? all the feelings i had when first diagnosed have come flooding back x

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FE1984 · 05/08/2019 12:17

This happened to someone very close to me. Fight for the medication which prevents the virus being passed to your baby during an outbreak. Be safe and monitor yourself and you will be fine. Sending hugs. Speak to medical professionals and ensure the correct health steps are taken.

FE1984 · 05/08/2019 12:17

This happened to someone very close to me. Fight for the medication which prevents the virus being passed to your baby during an outbreak. Be safe and monitor yourself and you will be fine. Sending hugs. Speak to medical professionals and ensure the correct health steps are taken.

FE1984 · 05/08/2019 12:17

This happened to someone very close to me. Fight for the medication which prevents the virus being passed to your baby during an outbreak. Be safe and monitor yourself and you will be fine. Sending hugs. Speak to medical professionals and ensure the correct health steps are taken.

FE1984 · 05/08/2019 12:17

This happened to someone very close to me. Fight for the medication which prevents the virus being passed to your baby during an outbreak. Be safe and monitor yourself and you will be fine. Sending hugs. Speak to medical professionals and ensure the correct health steps are taken.

FE1984 · 05/08/2019 12:17

This happened to someone very close to me. Fight for the medication which prevents the virus being passed to your baby during an outbreak. Be safe and monitor yourself and you will be fine. Sending hugs. Speak to medical professionals and ensure the correct health steps are taken.

Original poster
Courtney10891 · 05/08/2019 13:47

Hi,
Thanks for you reply! I've already been given the medication which I will start at 36 weeks I'm just more concerned why I'm getting back to back outbreaks. It's sort of taken me back to the first year of being newly diagnosed. Has anybody experienced anything like this? X

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Original poster
Courtney10891 · 05/08/2019 16:22

Anybody? Xx

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KHR1 · 06/08/2019 18:55

Hi,
I've had hsv for about 8 years and before being pregnant had maybe one outbreak a year which was barely noticeable. Since about 20 weeks I had outbreak after outbreak and they were painful - like when you first get it. I've been on the antivirals since 36 weeks and touch wood, it seems to have calmed down. I really hope it stays that way as I don't want anything to happen to baby! Hope yours calms down too!

Original poster
Courtney10891 · 06/08/2019 19:39

Thanks so much for replying! I don’t know why suddenly I’m getting outbreak. This never happened in my first pregnancy! How many weeks are you now? Have the anti virals stopped the outbreaks and are you still planning to deliver naturally x

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KHR1 · 06/08/2019 20:17

I wonder if hormones effect it? As I say, mine was pretty rare before being pregnant but has gone mad! I'm 38+5 now and I'm hoping to deliver naturally. Apparently the risk of passing on is very low if you don't have active lesions, your on antivirals and as we had the virus before pregnancy some immunity should have been passed on. If I went into labour during an outbreak, I'd definitely be asking for advice from the consultant on the labour ward as I obviously don't want to put baby in unnecessary risk.

KHR1 · 06/08/2019 20:18

So far I haven't had an outbreak whilst taking the antivirals (that I know of!)

Original poster
Courtney10891 · 07/08/2019 07:59

Amazing that’s good to hear! Can I ask what dose have you been told to take? I’ve been told to take x2 a day but reading online a lot of women are saying it’s x3 a day xx

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TeeBee · 07/08/2019 08:06

During pregnancy, your immune system changes radically...it has to do that your body doesn't reject your baby. This will be why you're having more outbreaks than normal.

Dec2019mumtobe · 07/08/2019 08:13

Agree with the PP, your immune system lowers because your body doesn't want to fight off your baby! So therefore, it's harder to fight other things off too. Especially if you're tired from not getting enough sleep, the hot weather, busy, stressed, generally feeling run down etc etc

rest up as much as possible, eat healthily, take lots of vitamins, drink lots of fluids and try to relax xx

KHR1 · 07/08/2019 10:17

@Courtney10891 I take 400mg of aciclovir 3 times a day

MunchyMunchkin · 07/08/2019 18:57

You can start the aciclovir earlier than 36 weeks and stay on it till delivery especially if you are having lots of outbreaks.
There is very minimal risk to baby even if a lesion was present at delivery (when it’s a recurrence) so it’s considered safe to deliver vaginally.
There is a joint rcog/Bashh guideline on the management of herpes in pregnancy if you want more details or to see the data.

Get yourself to sexual health if you need more advise.

Original poster
Courtney10891 · 21/09/2019 08:11

Hey how did your labour go? Was you able to deliver vaginally xx

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KHR1 · 21/09/2019 13:35

I had a completely normal induced birth after taking the suppressive dose Smile

Original poster
Courtney10891 · 21/09/2019 15:34

Aww that’s so great to hear! I’m starting my suppressive therapy on Tuesday when I will be 36 but I’ve just came down with a cold and now have an outbreak!! Xx

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KHR1 · 21/09/2019 20:31

Hopefully it will go quickly! My understanding was that the risk is incredibly low as long as you don't have an outbreak at the time of birth, I still had an outbreak between 36 and 38 weeks when i was on the suppressive treatment. My little one wasn't born until 42 weeks though so it had long gone.

Original poster
Courtney10891 · 21/09/2019 21:43

I think because I’m in the middle of an outbreak I’m panicking and feeling super down and depressed about it. I’ve given birth vaginally before and everything was fine, you would think that I would be more prepared and less anxious this time. X

OP posts:
KHR1 · 22/09/2019 12:51

Maybe bring it up at your next midwife appointment hopefully they will be able to reassure you. I totally understand the anxiety, this baby was my first and I spent most of my pregnancy panicking about whether I'd need a c-section because if it!

Original poster
Courtney10891 · 24/09/2019 15:34

Hey sorry to Keep msging you about it! I spoke to my doctor today and said to her I don’t want it be at the time of labour because my mum will be there and she doesn’t know. She said she would make a note of it on the system but I should try and pull the midwife to one side and remind them. I really don’t want my mum knowing!! Did they mention it a lot. Xx

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JJSS123 · 24/09/2019 15:39

Hey! I have it. I had an outbreak when being induced but no actual lesions. Was on anti vitals for about 5 days before I was induced I was panicking arguing for a section but they said I would pass the immunity to my baby. Delivery was fine baby perrrctly fine. I just pulled the midwife to the side and said it couldn’t be spoken about in front of anyone and she didn’t say a word. She said if she HAD to if it was an emergency and any risk to me or baby she would obviously that’s different but it was all fine honestly

JJSS123 · 24/09/2019 15:39

God how many typos in that! Sorry!