37 weeks COLD SORE need urgent advice

[Lozzak21]

I am having an elective c section in 2 weeks and have 3 raging cold sores.
Taking aciclovir but not making much difference.
I am so stressed that he will come early and I will inadvertently touch him and infect him and keep thinking about deafness/blindness and death. He is a much longed for ivf baby.
Please please could a mum who has experienced this let me know what happened when she went into labour with a cold sore. At this point I am tempted to ask for the baby to be seperated from me to err on side of caution. I am so sad that we won't be able to have skin to skin and bond without putting his life at risk :(((

I've always had terrible coldsores. Had them both times during labour, it was fine.
Just don't kiss the baby, there is absolutely no reason not to have skin to skin.

Hi I couldn’t read and run. I suffer badly with cold sores and needed an ELCS for my precious IVF boy.

Weirdly, pregnancy seemed to stop my cold sores! However I was soooo anxious about getting one I asked the anaesthetist in my pre-clinical check what I had an active one - I can’t actually remember her answer but clearly I was reassured. I didn’t have an active cold sore going into theatre.

I did however get them with vengeance once he was born. I researched the shit out of it and basically: wash your hands, don’t touch your face, use the cold sore patch things, don’t kiss baby on the lips or face. So all things we should be doing right now anyway. No impact on bonding and BF to 11 months despite a few outbreaks.

I suggest you speak not only to your midwife but also the anaesthetist( mine was lovely) and the consultant doing your ELCS.

Wishing you the very best, you will get to meet your baby so soon

Thank you SO much @Blondiecub0109 for responding.

What with being locked in due to the corona outbreak and now this I'm having a hard time of it right now :(

How did you handle your anxiety about it or did you just learn to relax a little?

I feel like I've waited so long for this and the thought that I'll be hesitant to show him affection in case I cause him harm is really breaking my heart. I guess with covid 19 women should be mindful to kiss their babies anyway just in case anything is passed on... I just feel like passing on hsv 1 and the subsequent outcome is way worse then anything I could of ever imagined.

I'm considering a surgical mask. Do you think that as well as the patches (if I can get hold of any) would suffice?

Really appreciate you taking the time to respond. Anything you could pass on to me would be much appreciated! Thank you xx

@Thatbloodybear ohhh thank you so much for the reassurance. Would you mind if I ask a few questions? How close did you bring baby to you and your face during skin to skin and how did you handle or did you have any anxiety about it?

Could you use the cold sore patches or a hydrocoloid plaster to cover the cold sore?

Oh I’ve just remembered something else, I don’t have a credible source for this so you may want to check it out but I’m sure I read in my research the infection risk is only if you’ve actually got a weepy or fluid filled blister, if it’s scabbed over or dry it’s ok?

I know exactly where you are coming from, both in the cold sore and generally. I was paranoid I’d need to take my glasses off - I’m extremely short sighted and can’t see at all without them, but people ie dentist, hairdresser will ask me to take them off them ask me questions and I’m like, I can’t see. So I was petrified my specs would be Taken away I theatre. I made sure everyone who I spoke to - anaesthetist, MW, everyone knew I couldn’t be without my specs. They probably thought I was crackers but they humoured me! So if I would I would just ask/tell every Healthcare professional you meet.

My ELCS, although not what I would initially wanted (big, breech baby) was beautiful. I’m a bit flat out with childcare plus wfh right now but if you have ANY concerns about anything please do PM me and I will respond probably in an evening

My heart breaks for you I can imagine the frustration but just try to think of the positives. You’ve been blessed with a child and the holding back is only temporary . Hang in there

Thank you @Blondiecub0109 and @Aly92 appreciate your kind words and offer of help. Really need reassurance and to hear from other mums who've been through this. I don't want this to ruin the magic of my first meeting with my child but also want to do everything possible to keep him safe. Out of interest did you kiss your baby once cold sore cleared up or wait until they were 6 months or so? xx

Is it your first ever cold sore? If not, it should be healed within two weeks and all will be well. I totally understand your panic though, I got a cold sore at 39weeks with my first baby. She was born seven days late (so two weeks after cold sore first showed up) and it was all healed by then.

Weird fact...with pfb I was neurotic about not touching her if I even though I had a cd sore coming. (I’ve always been extremely careful about not touching my cold sores and hand hygiene etc). She’s had cold sores from the age of four.

With my second daughter I often forgot I had cold sores and would kiss her etc. She’s nine now and has never had a cold sore to date!

@AlbusSeverusPotter13 thank you for your reply. Its so stressful isn't it?! Did you kiss your little one e en though it had healed by the time you gave birth or were you still cautious? Just curious as to how hard refraining from the kisses will be...

Hello - not for pregnancy or breastfeeding maybe (I don’t know what’s recommended), but Lysine supplements have been a lifesaver in preventing my cold sores. I take one a day and haven’t had a cold sore in five years, previously had them every few months.

I had an elective section and came out in about 5 cold sores the very next day! I didn't kiss my baby for months but I got plenty of skin to skin cuddles, managed to establish breastfeeding and washed my hands constantly. I was utterly terrified but you won't inadvertently infect your baby, you won't.
Hope they go soon bloody awful things.

Thank you @Notmyrealname855 I do usually use those. I agree the only thing that works. I'm not sure re breastfeeding and pregnancy either but I'll be bk on them as soon as I am able!! 🤞

@worriedmama16 thank you so much for your reply - I really appreciate it!

Did the fear of the coldsore impact on your enjoyment of the newborn stage? Or did you relax into it..

How did you find the elective section BTW? Any tips for recovery.

You need to calm down!

Seriously, take some time to do whatever you need to do to relax yourself. Anxiety seems like the issue here, rather than your cold sore.

The concerns you have are real and sensible and you are obviously aware of the risks which means you are in the best place to prevent anything bad from happening.

Your cold sores should have healed within the time between now and your c-secotion. Again, managing your anxiety should help with this.

You've got two weeks until your little one is here. The world is horrible and scary right now. Take care of yourself

Your cold sore isn’t remotely contagious once it’s healed up so no need to refrain from kisses. Tbf, I don’t remember kissing my baby but I probably did. I didn’t try to avoid it anyway. Think I spent the first few days in shock as she was 10lb 5oz normal delivery with no drugs 😱

Thank you ladies for all your responses. I know I sound a bit panicked 🙈 but with everything that's going on and now this and having tried to conceive for years my head has got all in a spin. I appreciate all your feedback and reassurance 😘 xx

My section was fine, really calm and I recovered beautifully. Only advice I'd give is to get up and about ASAP. My baby was in nicu for a few days(prem) so I was up and down the hospital loads. I got used to the cold sore situation quite fast, was anxious about other things! I'd been very reassured by the medical staff.