So the good news is that I have been able to control my ob's. It only took, what, a year and a half?? :dizzy: For the past 7 months having a baby has been on my mind. I would really like to have one but I'm scared of what might happen to me during the birth and what could possibly happen to my child. I'm also prone to depression and am taking antidepressants religiously (I'm such a better person when I take them, really I am). I've talked to one of my doctors and we have a plan of action to combat my depression.
I guess what I would like is to hear stories and get advice from women who have had children. Did you have a c-section or have a vaginal birth? What did you do about ob's during the pregnancy? Was your birth easy? Or was it difficult?

My other fear is having my mom there. I have not told her that I have herpes and don't plan to. They're not the sort of people who are tactful about these sorts of things. There would be whisperings to family members to clean their toilets after I've been in there (even though I'm considerate enough to carry bleach wipes in my purse and wipe down their holy toilet seat after use). God love 'em, but they fear what they don't know and do nothing to educate themselves about it. Anyone else having this problem?

I don't know...babies can contract something called neonatal herpes syndrome where it's passed on to the baby from the mother, and it is fatal. There's only about 3 cases in every 100,000 babies, however, so it's probably nothing to worry about. To be extra careful, however, a c-section would probably be the best way, talk to a couple of different doctors.

My daughter discovered she had herpes while pregnant. They scheduled her for a C-section and the baby was and is fine.

I was diagnosed in April 2003 and conceived my son in June of the same year. If your first OB is during pregnancy that can be concerning...see above post about passing H onto baby. However my doctors told me given my first OB was before pregnancy that wasn't a concern at all. Given my babe was conceived shortly after my first OB and it being my first year with H, and being very stressing throughout my pregnancy (unplanned hence stress), I had a number of OB's during my pregnancy. What did I do for them? Not much since you can't take meds for them while pregnant. I used Epsom salt baths some. It helped with the pain for short periods. If you don't have any symptoms of an OB when you go into labour vaginal delivery is fine...that's from three doctors I talked to while pregnant. If you have signs of an OB and deliver vaginally babe can be born blind. I had no signs of an OB during delivery or for a few months before. I delivered my babe vaginally and he was perfectly healthy.

As for your mom, you don't have to tell her. At the hospital, I mentioned once that I had H and asked them to check for any signs of an OB given you can't see down there yourself with a huge belly in your way. They noted on my chart that I had H and that's it. There was no big discussion. Send your mom off while you have private time with the doctor or nurse.

You don't have to tell your mom. Only your potential sex partners need know, not your family given it won't affect your family. As for wiping tiolet seats, no need. HSV won't live on the tiolet seat...it's needs your body to live.

i was always under impression baby only at risk if herpes contracted at time of pregnancy or just before? if you had it years before pregnant and you had slight o/b at delievery would really have to have c-section.what would you tell people the reason for c-sec?

Our daughter is almost two years old. I have hsv2 the genital kind for all who don't know yet. It exits my body at the base of my spine right above the crack of my butt. I feel very depressed about having something so dirty. I felt better knowing that so many people have this on the planet. I am glad that I have the kind that doesn't show up on my face and can be protected from the sun by clothing. When I found out I was pregnant I was thrilled but then I remembered I have herpes. I use forces of nature h-Balm medicines I rub them on almost immediately if I feel any prodomes or itching sometimes I don't catch it fast but I start any way. Straight Tea tree oil is excellent and will knock it back fast. Sometimes it can sting if you put it on genitalia but at times when I would have sex I would to protect my partner this way. I used this before my baby was born and because of where my obs where she was fine. Be as well as you can any little stress can bring forth an ob. It seems like I have them every two weeks but I live ahighly stressful life.
Take care

did you have a natrual birth?

I have Genital Herpes and I'm pregnant I'm due in 24 days the doctor told me as long as I dont have an outbreak or have any signs of an outbreak when I go into labor I dont have to have a c-section and I have been outbreak free for 9 months now. Also I have seen 2 docs and both of them told me to stop taking my meds (famvir) for the 1 and 2 trimester and to start taking them again at 34 weeks to prevent an ob at time of delivery

There are alot of explanations you can give for a c-section..The babe was to big for the mothers pelvis,the mothers pelvis was to narrow for the birth or so the doctor thought therefore the c-section was planned beforehand to make sure there were no complications..there are several others that my mind isnt letting me think of right now so I wouldnt worry about what to tell your family is the reason behind the c-section,Actually nothing more than "the doctor thinks it would be the safest way for me and my baby" should actually be needed......Good luck to the expectant moms.....

Hi, my story is different from the others. My doctors say I didn't have herpes when I got pregnant, that I contracted it either right before or immediately after my delivery. We don't know which, and we never will. It's not likely i was exposed prior to delivery, as I spent 8 weeks in the hospital and had absolutely NO sexual activity during my pregnancy.

Anyhow, I didn't have symptoms at delivery. I've never had symptoms. I don't even know where my infection is.

But, my babies had herpes. For the sake of other pregnancies, we will always assume they got it from me. But the doctors believe it was acquired, as unlikely as it may seem.

We learned a lot from our experience. You can have a natural vaginal birth with herpes if you have no symptoms at the time of delivery. The odds of transmission are very low in women with recurrent herpes. For example, babies born vaginally to women WITH active lesions have only a 5% rate of infection. Babies born to women with NO symptoms have less than 1% chance of infection! that's an amazing statistic, really. Suppressive therapy is now common in late pregnancy to reduce the risk even further. as many as 85% of babies with neonatal herpes are born to mothers who contracted the virus unknowingly during their last 8 weeks of pregnancy. The fact that you already have the virus significantly lowers your risks.

Worst case scenario, you have a c-section. You don't have to give anyone at all a reason for your c-section. but, keep in mind that there's always a good chance you'll need one anyway. a transverse or breech baby, a large baby, an emergency situation, a significantly premature baby...there are a lot of reasons.

You don't need to tell your mom or anyone else about having hsv. It's your right and privelige to share it only with your medical team and have your privacy and confidentiality protected. Be clear that you don't want it discussed even in the company of family, and they won't. Your doctor or nurse can ask her to step outside during your exam, and really there won't be much more discussion of it.

In all honestly, I think it's VERY wise to look into the concerns hsv poses during a pregnancy, but I definately wouldn't let it keep you from growing your family when you're ready. good luck!