violetdragonfly
03-31-2004, 06:00 PM
Hello everyone! I am 32 weeks pregnant and have Herpes. I would really like to give birth to my baby naturally but I am terrified because I have read so much about all of the terrible things that can happen to babies if the mother has an OB while giving birth. I will be taking something to suppress the OBs but I am scared that I won't know that I have one or that something will go wrong. Some people that I have talked to suggest that I just schedule a C-Section to be safe but this is something that I really don't want to do unless I have to. Does anyone that has gone through this experience have any advice or any success stories??
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jesabella
03-31-2004, 07:30 PM
I'm curious about this one, too.
movingrightalong
03-31-2004, 07:35 PM
I've not had children yet, but this is one of my utmost concerns with herpes.
What I have read is that most people are able to have a natural childbirth. Sometimes people go on suppressive therapy toward the end just to help them not have an OB at delivery time. I think that the way that they check is by performing regular cultures (I'm not sure how often) and at delivery time they do a really thourough inspection. The most danger is when the mother contracts herpes in the last trimester, thus not having developed enough antibodies and not passing antibodies on to the baby.
A wonderful woman called "Backpacker" on the board has had 2 of her children while having herpes. One of them ended up as a c-section becuase she got herpes late in the pregnancy and had an OB at the time of delivery, but the other one was an all-natural birth.
Hopefully some others will pipe in on this one, it's a topic that I'm very curious about as well. Have you experienced increased OBs as a result of your pregnancy?
What I have read is that most people are able to have a natural childbirth. Sometimes people go on suppressive therapy toward the end just to help them not have an OB at delivery time. I think that the way that they check is by performing regular cultures (I'm not sure how often) and at delivery time they do a really thourough inspection. The most danger is when the mother contracts herpes in the last trimester, thus not having developed enough antibodies and not passing antibodies on to the baby.
A wonderful woman called "Backpacker" on the board has had 2 of her children while having herpes. One of them ended up as a c-section becuase she got herpes late in the pregnancy and had an OB at the time of delivery, but the other one was an all-natural birth.
Hopefully some others will pipe in on this one, it's a topic that I'm very curious about as well. Have you experienced increased OBs as a result of your pregnancy?
sarah1000
03-31-2004, 08:59 PM
There is some really good info on the net and in other posts on this forum all about this subject. There is a whole decision grid based on how long you have had the disease, your last outbreak, test on whether you have an active outbreak or are asymptomatically shedding at time of delivery. From what i've read it seemed like the risk was extremely low of transmitting it during delivery if you had the virus a while and do not have an active outbreak or prodrome symtpoms at delivery time (.02% or 2%). If you jsut got it during pregnancy or have an active outbreak, the risks are higher and they usually advise a C section. I know glaxosmithkline had a reporting study of several years that lead to these guidelines, you can probably find more info on their website.
backpacker
04-04-2004, 05:52 PM
Hey everybody! I'm back from my backpacking trip! Couldn't pass this thread up.
First, mra, thank you for your kind description of me. Since you are so wonderful yourself, your opinion means a lot to me.
I think the type of advice you get about birth-with-herpes depends on the type of person or professional you ask. I was gung-ho all-natural and had had two homebirths with midwives before I contracted h. They had been in business for over 30 years (that was about 15 years ago, and they are still in business) and had had many births to women with herpes, and no cases of transmission. They were very positive, calming, encouraging, and helpful--which is exactly what you need when you're pregnant, right? I encourage you not to listen to or read any horror stories--it makes the chances of an ob (due to stress) more pronounced.
At 38 weeks of my third pregnancy I developed a primary ob (my husband--now ex--had herpes) and the sore wasn't healed by the time I went into labor. I called the midwives and one went with us to the hospital where my back-up dr practiced. I had the Caesarean--not a good experience when you have had two beautiful homebirths! But definitely necessary. Three days later the sore was gone and we could not get a positive culture from the site!
My next birth was an all-natural (Bradley method is much more successful than LaMaze!) homebirth. The midwives took cultures toward the end of my pregnancy, but otherwise never bothered me about it, and certainly never alarmed me! My husband helped a lot by taking charge of the other children and letting me sleep a lot. The trick, as always, pregnant or no, is to eat well, sleep lots, and stay healthy and happy. Anyway, I had a beautiful fourth boy, who has always been extremely healthy.
Good luck--please let me know how you're doing.
First, mra, thank you for your kind description of me. Since you are so wonderful yourself, your opinion means a lot to me.
I think the type of advice you get about birth-with-herpes depends on the type of person or professional you ask. I was gung-ho all-natural and had had two homebirths with midwives before I contracted h. They had been in business for over 30 years (that was about 15 years ago, and they are still in business) and had had many births to women with herpes, and no cases of transmission. They were very positive, calming, encouraging, and helpful--which is exactly what you need when you're pregnant, right? I encourage you not to listen to or read any horror stories--it makes the chances of an ob (due to stress) more pronounced.
At 38 weeks of my third pregnancy I developed a primary ob (my husband--now ex--had herpes) and the sore wasn't healed by the time I went into labor. I called the midwives and one went with us to the hospital where my back-up dr practiced. I had the Caesarean--not a good experience when you have had two beautiful homebirths! But definitely necessary. Three days later the sore was gone and we could not get a positive culture from the site!
My next birth was an all-natural (Bradley method is much more successful than LaMaze!) homebirth. The midwives took cultures toward the end of my pregnancy, but otherwise never bothered me about it, and certainly never alarmed me! My husband helped a lot by taking charge of the other children and letting me sleep a lot. The trick, as always, pregnant or no, is to eat well, sleep lots, and stay healthy and happy. Anyway, I had a beautiful fourth boy, who has always been extremely healthy.
Good luck--please let me know how you're doing.
violetdragonfly
04-05-2004, 12:29 AM
Thank you for your replies, they are reassuring! I just recently switched to a midwife and I had an appointment on Friday and discussed the issue with her. She said that has delivered babies of several women with herpes and has never had any problems so that made me fell a little better but I think this is something that I am going to worry about until I have my baby!! I have only had one OB so far during my pregnancy and that was right in the beginning so I am hoping that is the only one that I will have!!! :)
backpacker
04-05-2004, 12:39 AM
Good luck! Sleep well, and think all positive, good thoughts about your sweet little baby! Keep us informed.
Mommyof4
04-05-2004, 01:41 AM
Just wanted to add that I have had 4 kids while having GH. The first 2 were natural. They tested me before I went into labor and both tests were negative so we went ahead with the natural birth.
The last 2 pregnancies were different. I had an outbreak with my last child in the 1st trimester. They tested before I had him and it was negative but he was having other problems so I had a c section. Totally herpes UNrelated ;) I also had a c section with my 3rd child but that again was unrelated to herpes.
I just wanted to pass on that you can have a very beautiful birth experience despite this
The last 2 pregnancies were different. I had an outbreak with my last child in the 1st trimester. They tested before I had him and it was negative but he was having other problems so I had a c section. Totally herpes UNrelated ;) I also had a c section with my 3rd child but that again was unrelated to herpes.
I just wanted to pass on that you can have a very beautiful birth experience despite this
backpacker
04-05-2004, 11:12 AM
I love your quotes, Mommyof4. We all need to realize how lucky we are, even when we don't feel lucky!
eliza25
04-06-2004, 12:00 AM
hello,
I am a proud mother of a beautiful daughter, and I too have GH. I was on surpressive therepy for the last 4-5 months and I did deliver vaginally without any problems. My daughter does not have herpes or any other conditions. Good luck
I am a proud mother of a beautiful daughter, and I too have GH. I was on surpressive therepy for the last 4-5 months and I did deliver vaginally without any problems. My daughter does not have herpes or any other conditions. Good luck
outinthesticks
04-28-2004, 11:44 PM
Hi, I know I'm posting late, but
I just wanted to add that I have given birth to two children vaginally, and have H. The doctors put me on acyclovir or Valtrex, (I can't remember which) for about 3-4 weeks before my due date. Neither kids have herpes or any side effects from the medication. :angel:
I just wanted to add that I have given birth to two children vaginally, and have H. The doctors put me on acyclovir or Valtrex, (I can't remember which) for about 3-4 weeks before my due date. Neither kids have herpes or any side effects from the medication. :angel:
violetdragonfly
04-29-2004, 01:37 AM
Hello! Thank you for your reply. It makes me feel better to know that there are other people that were in my situation and had successful vaginal deliveries! I am seeing a midwife but had to go to my family doctor to get a prescription for acyclovir and he is very against delivering vaginally with herpes. He lectured me about all of the terrible things that can happen to the baby and made me feel that these things would happen and that I am putting my baby's life at risk because I do not want a c-section. It was terrible and it really made me think that maybe I should not even try to deliver naturally. I am just trying to find more info on the subject! :)
outinthesticks
04-29-2004, 10:44 AM
I had a different doctor with each kid and neither one of them had any problems with me delivering vaginally... OF course they did say that there was a small risk of infection, but only if I was having an ob at the time of the delivery, and even then its not a 100% chance the baby will get it... Sounds like your family doctor is a little knife happy... :eek:
movingrightalong
04-29-2004, 12:29 PM
Just wanted to say that this is a great thread. Childbirth is one of my main concerns with herpes and it's great to hear the positive stories here. I agree with outinthesticks, violet.... you should definitely get a second opinion. The only concern is if you're having an OB at the time, especially if you contracted herpes during the pregnancy. Think about how many women don't even KNOW that they have herpes and deliver babies without incident. Tell him to put his scalpel away and simmer down a little. :)