GenitalHerpes

[MarieCC]

Hi girls
I wonder if any of you can help me.
Unfortunately I lost my 1st baby as I went into premature labour and our baby passed away.
I know I will be high risk now if I were to fall
pregnant again but I just found out I have genital herpes, which is so frustrating. So now I am very anxious about trying again.
Firstly 1.has anyone experienced genital herpes through any part of their pregnancy either beginning, middle or end (how did you get through it) Did you still deliver a healthy baby?

Also were you offered a C Section

Firstly I'm really sorry about your baby, I can't imagine how hard that must be 💕

With regards to herpes, from what I understand the main risk to the baby comes from having an outbreak of herpes at birth when you have never had an infection before because the baby won't have any antibodies.

As you have genital herpes, if you get a flare up during pregnancy you will produce antibodies which will help to protect the baby. Any outbreaks during pregnancy won't impact the baby.

For labour what is normally recommended if you have herpes is you go on a suppressant dose of medication around 36 weeks. This hopefully means no risk of a flare up at birth (or after which can happen when your immune system is low post birth). It's unlikely you will be offered a caesarean if you have had a herpes outbreak before, only if you experience your first outbreak at the point of labour.

Please do your own research but I really wouldn't let herpes stop me from trying for a baby. It hasn't negatively impacted my pregnancies in any way and all medical professionals I have come across have said the same and that the impact is minimal as long as you are experiencing your first ever outbreak at the point of labour.

My first baby was premature and I wasn't able to take the suppressant dose but once it was established I didn't have an outbreak I was able to have a vaginal birth without any issues.

Hope that helps x

Hi Sarah
Thank you for your message.
I have done quite a bit of research and have read the same as you, in that it is more dangerous to experience a 1st outbreak in your last trimester or when you fall pregnant and it benefits you now if you know you have it as you build up immunity.
I’m concerned that if I fell pregnant again and had a flare up for whatever reason in whatever stage that it could cause problems.
So you have to had genital herpes and been ok in both pregnancies? Also what I am
concerned about is passing it onto my partner. How are we going to try for a baby again if I have this! Xx

I take anti virals when I have an outbreak. And I was given a course to take for my due date to minimize risk.

I don't remember (it was a long time ago) but I'll definitely have had outbreaks during my pregnancies.

You had healthy babies and all was ok? X

Yes I've had herpes outbreaks in both pregnancies and no issues whatsoever with my babies because of them. I'm unfortunately someone who gets recurrent outbreaks usually when I'm tired or stressed and being pregnant does seem to improve it slightly but I still have an outbreak probably every 2-3 months. Depending on the outbreak I'll either just let it takes its course or I will take antivirals and they are safe for use during pregnancy. But that is purely to manage my comfort rather than cut an outbreak short for baby, as I said it has no impact on them.

The question about trying for a baby really will depend on you and your partners view. When I first had an outbreak, I'd been with my partner for a few years and it's likely id been infected for a while but illness triggered the first outbreak. Whether I caught it from my partner or or i caught it from someone previously who knows. But my then partner (now husband) took the view that chances are he would catch it eventually so we are very relaxed about it (he's never had an outbreak but that's not to say he doesn't have it). I don't have sex if I'm having an active outbreak (for my own comfort) but he really isn't bothered. You have to remember most people have herpes virus and don't get outbreaks, we are unlucky in that respect. You may find you don't have another outbreak after this one and then can carry on trying for a baby. Or if it's looking like you may have outbreaks again just ask your doctor for a supply of antivirals and as soon as you feel an outbreak coming on you can start a course of antivirals (4-5 days). If you have regular outbreaks doctors will put you on a lower suppressive dose, says 1 table a day over a longer period of time. But for us it has never had an impact on our sex life or trying for a baby xx