Anyone conceived/given birth? I've read if OB when deliverin you will need to have C-section; but then recently read if outbreak during pregnancy baby can be underweight, etc. Thanks for any info.

I went into labor with my 3rd child during my primary ob. I did have a caesarean. Yuck! But he has always been extremely healthy. Then I got pregnant with my fourth, had one small ob early in the pregnancy, but had natural childbirth. The midwives cultured my cervix and vaginal area a lot during the last month of the pregnancy. They are home birth specialists, and said in 25 years they had helped lots of mothers with herpes give birth, and not a single baby had gotten herpes from the mother (there were some c-sections like my first, when the mother had an ob as she went into labor.)

I have never heard or read anything about the low birth weight being related to h; I think it's more a problem with the mother's diet or other problems.

Thanks. I had read this in the book "Pregnancy Week by Week" but is the first I have ever heard anything like this so was worried. Thanks for the info.

No problem! Are you pregnant, or thinking of getting that way?

MmShelll and I discussed using Valtrex and having herpes on the pregnancy board, and I am going to bump this thread to see if we can get an answer as to whether or not having herpes can cause premature labor and/or low birth weights.

I have had 3-4 outbreaks during my pg already (I am 21 weeks) and would still like to deliver vaginally. Anyone know if it matters how many times you outbreak before you go into labor? Does it hurt the baby?

It doesn't matter how many times, as long as you are ob-free (and your dr has cultured the area near the delivery); and the placental barrier protects the baby.

I agree with backpacker, I had several outbreaks during my pregnancies and my children were 8 lbs 9 oz and 8 lbs 6 oz... No low birthweight there...

this is a way old post, so excuse me for bumping it.

But yes, herpes CAN cause prematurity and low birthweight. however, it isn't likely that it would cause very premature birth unless you had a primary outbreak during birth.

That's the info I got from the infectious disease docs and my perinatologist at least.