Coldsore and babies

[xsmx18]

Hi,

Is anyone else terrified about the coldsore herpes virus in babies?

I don't let anyone touch my babies face kiss her I even wipe her hands if someone touches them.

I'm so paranoid and hate to be this scared about it but I've read so many stories about babies dying.

My family members get cold sores and even when they don't have one I'm still so. Paranoid even if my daughters hand touches their face.

Its driving me insane how terrified I am about it! Is anyone else the same??

Hi @xsmx18 - how old is your baby? I do remember reading that when they're very young (less than six months) the herpes virus can be very dangerous for them so I think you're right to be concerned if your family members get cold sores and insist on kissing baby's face, hands etc. I'm 29 weeks pregnant right now and I had a conversation with my MIL recently about how I won't allow anyone to kiss the baby's face or hands for the first few months for this very reason. She told me I was being silly, that it was utter nonsense . . . and she does get cold sores :-(

However it does feel a little as though it's blowing out of proportion for you . . . are you anxious generally, with the baby? I sympathise; I think I'll be similar, but it's something to probably try to get under control before it ruins the enjoyment of time with your baby. Maybe speak to your health visitor or GP?

Neonatal herpes is only passed through active sores and the most common source of infection is genital herpes or the cold sore virus in the mother. If your family don’t have active sores then it’s fine.

80%+ of the population have herpes, 25% genitally you can’t avoid it and it isn’t a big deal. BUT it isn’t unreasonable up to the age of 6 months to not want anyone kissing your babies face, and no touching of anyone with an active sore.

There really isn’t a high % of babies dying from the virus, you need to keep it in perspective. You yourself probably carry it as most people just never get symptoms.

My DD3 got it aged under 1, it became infected gingivitis. It was scary as she was in hospital (it got into her gums) but couple of days and she was fine, a few outbreaks since and now she never gets one, but like all of us will carry the virus forever, probably with no further outbreaks.

Maybe speak to your GP or HV to help gain some perspective?

I’m afraid of this too!!! My fear started because a mid wife actually warned me about it, I had no idea it was an issue as In with all the other things to think about I hadn’t considered cold sores as being so dangerous. I too intend to not allow people to kiss my babies face, I know it will cause offence but the more I’m reading and hearing the less I want someone doing it. Aside from cold sores they can pick all sorts up, I am not allowed get the whooping cough vaccine in my pregnancy so I’m also worried about that! My midwife said a lot of older people have it and don’t tend to “whoop” and do think it’s just a general cough, and can pass it to babies then easily that haven’t been vaccinated! I am not allowed it due to a severe reaction in the past and the doctors all agreed it was a bad idea, so I’ll be like you ha ha. No sick people will be allowed pass my door for a long time! The cold sore thing does concern me though! Especially if your MIL does not see why it’s a potential issue. You can’t protect them from every germ but to me it’s common sense to not encourage the face kissing, especially if people have active sores! It’s a touchy subject and some people do take it personally unfortunately!

I should add too, just to be clear, I will be giving my baby the whooping cough vaccine just i have to wait till they are eight weeks so it’s prior to that that worries me, just in case it sounds like I am anti vaccine I am not ha ha!

Hey yes i am ,my baby isnt born yet but ive told people no kissing her ,i wont even be kissing my own baby and ive never had a cold sore,its not worth risking anything. I dont care if people think im crazy my baby comes first. This is baby no.6 for me so im not scared to put rules in place,its your baby so dont be scared to say x

Thank you for all the replys.

My girl has just turned 6 months old.

I have a close family member who refuses to come and see my daughter because she's not aloud to kiss or touch her face which I think is insane but also her loss!

I know myself im too paranoid about this because even when my MIL is holding her when she doesn't have an active coldsore and my daughters hand touches her face I feel so anxious and scrub her hands afterwards and her face if that happens to touch her face aswell.
I hate living in fear about this 😔

I've never heard that it can be a danger - Where's this come from? When my DD (now 14) was born, I had a dreadful cold sore outbreak, and I definitely missed her a lit. She suffered no ill effects and has never had a cold sore.

Kissed her a lot, not missed her a lit. No idea how to edit a post here!