Giving birth vaginally with herpes

[anxiousmumtobeeee]

I am terrified. There is a 1% chance you can still pass the virus to baby through the birth canal even without an active outbreak. The outcome of a baby getting herpes is so bad I don't want to take even a 1% risk, as somebody has to be In that 1%. Has anyone with herpes without an outbreak ever actually passed it to their baby? What would you do if you were me because I'm leaning more towards c section which breaks my heart because it's not what I ever wanted. I don't want to comprise my baby's health just for the birth I wanted though.

I'd go for c section. It is not terrible. I was up walking around next day after mine. Stitches out after 5 days. Only downside you can't drive for 6 weeks because of insurance.

OK, first off, you're doing great, you aren't burying your head in the sand and you want to do the best by you and your baby.

First, thing, make sure your midwife knows your concerns, for my first daughter the protocol in England was to monitor for active outbreaks in the last trimester and advise from there - it was very light touch. For my second daughter (and this was 11 years ago) it had tightened up and I was referred to a consultant and prescribed acciclovir for the final weeks, to minimise risk of outbreak.

In both cases it was a vaginally birth, and no transfer to child in either case.

I don’t have the experience but just wanted to say that I have the same concerns and worries as also have genital herpes and had two flare ups in pregnancy. I do try to think that 1% is a really low risk and the antivirals make it safer. But I totally get the worry and the feeling of dread. I have some other conditions as well and just an anxious mess. I hope I get a chance to discuss this with a doctor before my labour starts!

I was.prescribed ancyclovir to take three times a day from 36 weeks. I thought I had a flare up a few days before I was due to be induced, doctor put my mind at ease and said that it's more of a worry when it's the first outbreak, and subsequent will mean that the baby should have some immunity. I had my DD two weeks ago and all was fine.

I can't advise on the herpes risk but wanted to point out that it's not true that you can't drive for six weeks. You need to check with your insurance company. I've had a lot of abdominal surgery including two c sections and been with several different insurance companies. Each one has always said the same thing. If you have been cleared by a doctor and are able to do an emergency stop then you are covered. You just need to make sure that it is in your notes that you have been deemed ok to drive. The earliest I have driven is ten days after a section. It's a lot less of a strain than pushing a pushchair!

Thanks. Ive since read even a c section isn't 100% that you won't pass it! Why is this? I guess even if it's still safer (albeit not 100%) it's still the best option but how on earth can baby contract herpes if they're not coming in contact with your genitals which is where genital herpes virus is present when active / shedding?

I have had herpes. I had one outbreak before DS1 I was v,young mum it was never mentioned during my first pregnancy that DS is 11 and no health issues ever.
I had one outbreak in between DS1 & 2, fingers crossed no more will come although I occasionally get tender tingling skin on my inner thigh which I think is related.
Anyway, I have birthed three children vaginally with no issues and only on my third birth was it mentioned (I never realised the risks at the age I was with the first two) be honest with your care team but I don't think it's a huge huge stress it's more common than you think.

Please visit the herpes viruses association site and make sure you are fully up to date with your info. This is taken from their site herpes.org.uk/frequently-asked-questions/genital-herpes-pregnancy-childbirth/

Summary
During pregnancy, herpes simplex only causes concern:

If the mother has a first infection during the last few months of pregnancy because there may not be time for the baby to acquire antibodies from the mother before the birth. Taking aciclovir 400 mg three times daily will probably be prescribed by your obstetrician and may prevent the need for a C-section.
If baby is being born before 32 weeks (very premature). These babies do not have full antibody protection so they could be infected during the birth if the mother has sores.
In these cases, there is a danger that the baby could contract herpes simplex so a Caesarean-section is usually performed. Women who do not have genital herpes should be careful not to catch it in the last two months of pregnancy – as explained above. This means that if their partners are already infected (facially or genitally) they should avoid contact that might transmit the virus to the mother.

Neonatal herpes
If a baby under 1 month old develops herpes simplex, we call it neonatal herpes. This is very rare, and usually this is because the mother does not have herpes simplex herself, so the baby has no antibodies. Because it is so uncommon, it gets written about: read the article on a baby who caught herpes after childbirth.

The NHS Choices website has more about babies with herpes

Speak with your midwife about your options, but as you already have herpes, it's incredibly unlikely that your baby will be harmed.

If you have an outbreak during pregnancy, as others have said, and it's early enough on then baby will inherit some antibodies and be better protected during birth. I don't have genital herpes but I get coldsores and same applies as it's also herpes.

I have a friend who has genital herpes and had a vaginal birth. All fine. As others have said, you can take the antivirals before the birth.

They get your antibodies even if you don't have an outbreak in pregnancy at all.

They don't get antibodies if you only catch it late in pregnancy.

Can I ask how your birth went? Were you able to have vaginal birth and can I ask if you had any use of forceps etc as I’ve seen there can increase risk of transmission? Going through this myself thanks x x

I had vaginal birth and have genital herpes, and I had emergency forceps and episiotomy. All fine, the baby wasnt infected and still isnt infected 18 month since, we co-sleep (I sleep in pyjamas).

For the end of my pregnancy I was on acyclovir, and it is all you need to do for the precaution. It will be all fine xx