OK I need some opinions - in fact as many as I can get because I am at a loss to make up my mind.

I am 5 months pregnant and I have herpes. I know that there is a risk of passing this to my baby during delivery causing deafness blindness or sometimes death and it scares me more than words can say.

My options are to wait until my 35th week and take Valtrex - a drug that they have not done enough research about, as far as what it does to an unborn child. My doctor said that even on Valtrex you can still break out so we will have to watch me closely and if I do break out do a c-section.

My other option is to NOT take the Valtrex and hope for the best, watching for breakouts and if I have one I will have to get a c-section anyway.

What is the point of taking Valtrex if both options end up with me possible having a c-section? I would be willing to have the c-section for my child and I have told the doctor this.

I need to know answers to a few questions...

Is there a possibility if I have an outbreak in my 35th to 40th week that the baby can cath it in my womb?

Is there a possibility that I could take the Valtrex and break out because of taking it (Valtrex making it worse)?

What would/did you do? If you have been pregnant and have taken Valtrex please let me know the outcome.

Thanks.

Hi LouisaT, I had my last baby in 1985 and had aquired herpes from my then, husband. We took the route of waiting to see if I had an outbreak before delivery and if so, C-section. I delivered naturally and my baby was fine. I would be cautious about taking a drug that hasn't even been tested for unborn babies. I do not believe that the baby can get the infection even if you have an outbreak that late in pregnancy, due to the protective lining that the baby is in, and the closed off cervix. Good luck, everything will be ok.

Hi Louisa, I have herpes and have 3 wonderful children. My first daughter was by c-section, because I had a break out when she was born. My next two children were delivered vaginally, also known as a VBAC. I understand that you are scared, I was too with my first child.

Your unborn child cannot get herpes from you if you have a break out during your pregnancy. Personally, I would not take any medication that I had no idea what it would do to my child.

When I went into labor with all 3 of my children, the doctor made sure I was not broken out with herpes at the time and then we made the decision together.

Louisa, have you sat down with your doctor and asked him these questions? Personally, I would have to question a doctor who would suggest you take any medication, not knowing the results it will have on your child.



[This message has been edited by christie s (edited 05-20-2002).]

Wanted to respond to some of your questions. First I want to say that I have a very rare and high rate of herpes recurrences. I have had two children and neither one contracted herpes. I had both vaginally. During my first pregnancy I broke out constantly (I mean multiple times a month) Most of my outbreaks are on my rear. About a month before I delivered I stopped having outbreaks (don't know why-guess my body was able to kick in as it usually isn't). Second pregnancy (two years ago) I decided to take acyclovir at end of pregnancy. My understanding is that this is becoming STANDARD PROCEDURE even though it is not FDA approved. I was told this by a reproductive endocrinologist at a teaching hospital. I was also told this by my own doc. I feel my child was not harmed in anyway by this, and she would have suffered much worse by being exposed to this virus that can cause death in infants. You obviously must make this decision yourself. Many, many excellent doctors on the cutting edge of current practice recommend taking medication these days.

I can't remember all of your questions but want to say that looking for an outbreak and not seeing one does not mean you are not shedding the virus-remember asymptomatic shedding?

Women who are most at risk for passing this virus on to there babies are women who contract it late in their pregnancy because they have not made the antibodies to protect baby.

Whatever you decide to do, the chances of passing it on to your baby are small because you know you have the virus and have had it for a while. One last thing, I have read and recently heard of a woman whose baby contracted herpes from a fetal scalp monitor. Don't let them use one on your baby. I always kept that in mind, and told my husband not to let them use one in case I became unable to object due to any unforseen circumstance. Try to relax many women with herpes have babies, and most of them don't get the virus. Best wishes, Susan.

First of all, if I were you, I would have a c-section no matter what as you know you can transmit by shedding and not even have it known to you or your doctor. Yes there are complications that can occur. Don't want to scare you, but children can end up needing liver transplants or get herpes encephalitis (brain damage) so if I were you I would take no chances and have the c-section. That is 100% guarantee that you will not transmit it to your baby. Lots of women don't have outbreaks at the time of delivery and they still transmit it to their babies through vaginal births. If your OB says no to the c-section, find one who will say yes. trust me, the risk of a vaginal birth is not worth it.

[This message has been edited by moderator1 (edited 07-28-2002).]

I just wanted to say that I once had an outbreak on my stomach! So much for the 100% guarantee of a c-section. I would really think this through if I were you. I doubt there are many (any?) doctors out there who would just give you a c-section because you have herpes. I think that would be considered unnecessary. By the way I have worked in a hospital too, and I have seen babies born to mom's who have herpes. That's partly why I took the meds. Good luck no matter what you choose.

[This message has been edited by SusanM (edited 05-28-2002).]

[This message has been edited by SusanM (edited 05-28-2002).]

First of all, YES. MANY doctors will do Csections on Herpes positive women, trust me, I know. And any risk of exposure is too much of a risk. And as for the out break on your stomach, the stomach is swabbed with betadine and it is covered by a sterile sheet. Obviously the incision would not be on top of the sore, therefore, the baby would not contract it this way. C sections are not thought of the way they were before. Many OBs actually think they are safer than a vaginal birth. There are many complications that can occur during vaginal births that would never happen with a c section.
Marie

I have read a lot about herpes, and I have never, ever heard any expert (or doctor) suggest that it is safer or necessary for all women who have herpes to have a c-section. If c-sections were so much better and more risk free than vaginal births why doesn't everyone opt for one??? Bye Bye Marie

[This message has been edited by moderator1 (edited 07-28-2002).]

I have to say that I've done ALOT of reading and researching into this, since I was diagnosed about six months ago, and I have to concur with Suzanne. I've never heard of doctors, immedidately skipping over the VBAC and going to a C-section, just because of herpes.

I've just never heard of anything remotely like that. I'd be open to reading sourced that back it up.

I'm going to be a mother, sooner than later in my life, and I'm not going to let something like herpes, plan it for me.

[This message has been edited by moderator1 (edited 07-28-2002).]

Please let us know how everything goes.

I am only telling what my opinion from what I see is. Read up on it, instead of assuming, and you will find that many OBs perform Csections on herpes postitive women. Remember that asymptomatic shedding? A lot of the women whos babies need liver transplants, or suffer brain damage had no sores or visible lesions at the time of delivery. And I only know one thing. I would do whatever was necessary to protect my child. And if that meant undergoing a c section and having a few more days of recovery to ensure that my child was not transmitted a disease, then by God I would do it. ANY risk of transmission is too much.
Susan http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/biggrin.gif

[This message has been edited by moderator1 (edited 07-28-2002).]

I am 5 months pregnant with my second child and married to an OB/GYN. It was recommended by my doctor and by my husband that I take Valtrex beginning at 37 or 38 weeks during my first pregnancy. This is also recommended by the American College of OB/GYNs, a highly respected professional organization which makes recommendations on suggested treatments for various issues.

As noted in several of the posts, herpes can have deadly consequences in newborns and is simply not worth the risk. If they do contract it (and they may even if you do not think you are having an outbreak because you have sores on your cervix, in your vagina, or are shedding the virus asymptomatically), the baby will be given Valtrex anyway. What does two weeks matter? In fact, part of the reason you take it while pregnant is so the baby will get the Valtrex into its system and will not contract HSV if exposed.

I respect my husband's medical opinion implicitly as he was in the very top of his medical class, went to a very competitive residency, and has scored in the 99th percentile in the country on the standardized tests given to residents . . . not to brag about his credentials, but just to let you know he knows what he is talking about. More importantly, I know my husband would never recommend I do anything that would be harmful to his son, and he absolutely firmly believes I should take Valtrex again this time, so I will.

I hope this helps.

GAmomof two-

I hope you don't mind, I just had a question for you. I can't take Valtrex, I have horrible side effects of incapacitating stomach cramps. I suppose the Acycolvir would be recommended the same way in early pregnancy?

Thank you so much for all of the responses!!!! The different opinions have TRULY helped.

I am now 7 months pregnant and still torn. I want to have a c-section so bad. I am seriously scared to death. I am going to talk to my doctor at my next appt. to see if we can schedule one. I have read many places that if you are having an outbreak they give you a c-section SO what I was thinking was if I am having asymptomatic shedding or a breakout or not sure I want a c-section anyway to be safe. Or maybe even take Valtrex and get a c-section just in case I go into labor before the c-section is scheduled.

I hope my doctor will schedule one for this reason and not tell me that I will only get a c-section with an outbreak. I hate to sound sneaky but if I was told that I would probably fake an outbreak by saying that I could feel one coming on - like the tingling etc. just so they would do it.

If you are that scared, I don't think natural labor will work well for you anyway. I did have natural home births with my children (though I didn't know yet that what I had was herpes, had been tested negative but was still concerned, there was no outbreak present and everything was fine) but just having done childbirth 2 times, I believe that if a person is so set on having a c-section it makes natural labor become dangerous. I can't imagine that a dr would refuse to do a c-section for the reason of possible herpes transmission coupled with fear. Perhaps a different dr would be better for you if this one doesn't understand. Good luck!

Sweet Marie thank God for your stance. To those of you who say not to have a c-section or are thinking there are not doctors out there that will do them automatically if you have herpes let me tell you I am speaking from experience.
My son died five months ago from herpes he was six days old and ladies I even had a c-section. He still got it through a-symtamatic shedding. Please Please Please do not take any risks with your baby. Why not spend an extra few weeks recovering? I visit my son at the cemmetary because of the awful disease, you are all a step ahead in knowing you have Herpes. It is up to you of course but I just found out I am pregnant again and there is nothing I will not do to protect my child and this time take my baby HOME instead of holding him till he passed in ICU. Please benefit from my loss, it truly is not worth it!

man can easily check their penises for any signs of herpes, rash, blisters, etc, women in other hand cant look up their weewee to search for signs of herpes, thats why a c section should be resonable, but its women choice to risk it, as well as the doctors advice and guidance, take valtrex the last three weeks of pregnancy, not only will it benefit u but the baby as well, if the mother takes 500mg or up to 1000mg of valtrex three weeks into delivery , her baby will have medicine in his bloodstream, inso, not only will the mother be herpes free at the time of delivery, but the baby will have a forcefield of protection from the meds, for example, a women with hiv(aids) who is about to give birth is more likely to pass the aids virus to her fetus if shes not taking medication, then a women who is current with her medication, it lessens the risk, and chance of the fetus catching the virus. many women who have hiv are giving birth to healthy babies and many are not, well thats my point folks

MasonsMom I am so sorry to hear about the loss of your son. You are so strong to come on here and let us know what happened.

Am I understanding that you had a c-section and he still caught it? Is this because your water broke before you had the c-section?

I just had my 32 week appt. today and I told my doctor that I am willing to take the Valtrex the last 3-4 weeks of my pregnancy BUT because I am having back to back outbreaks since hitting that 3rd trimester I STILL WANT A CSECTION PERIOD!

Unfortunately the doctor said that she would have to talk to the other doctors there and that its not something that they do automatically because I request it. What she does not know is that I will fake an outbreak and symptoms just to get the c-section done.

They are not going to make my decision for me and play with my childs life. I will know at my next appt. in weeks if they approve it or not. Either way I am getting it done.

My question is WHY would they even take the chance with suck a thinfg as asymptomatic shedding? If they know that there will be no symptoms and the baby can stil get it WHY would they risk it?????

Louisia,
There reasoning is that the mother carries more risk from the c section than the chance of passing it to the baby. But I am with you. if I had herpes (I dont) I would do whatever it took to have a c section too. Even if it meant there was more risk to me, Id do it for the baby.

Good Luck

SweetMarie, I think you are right. I am an ER nurse and happen to be 30 weeks pregnant. I also have genital herpes. My doctor has suggested acylovir or valtrex starting at week 34. He has also given me the option of a scheduled C-section. Many doctors will do a c-section for much less reason than this. I understand that even with C-section there is a small risk still BUT if you take the Valtrex it makes it almost non existant.

You are ALSO right that there are new studies out especially in the UK that C-sections are becoming more common place. The reasons are in vaginal birth the pelvic floor can end up with problems, incontintant of urine, vaginal tears that can go to through the rectum, just to name a few. They said on Discovery Health that women are delivering bigger and bigger babies and that the vaginal walls ect... aren't accomadating as well.

So there is proof out there SusanM... I would go to discovery.com and see what you can find in the search.

to the Lady who lost her precious baby to herpes infection... I am so sorry to hear that. We pregnant women with herpes all worry of just that. You had the C-sect and your son still contracted it.. was it a primary OB or had your membranes been broken prior to delivery or did they think it was cross placental infection...

Thank you, I am struggling as well with what to do...but will probably opt for the c-section.

Witness.

I would like to know what the mother decided and how this went for her and the baby?

So many opinions! Have not been on the board in a long time. Herpes is a scary thing especially when one is pregnant.

I seriously doubt the day will ever come in my lifetime when babies are routinely removed surgically (c-section) to avoid problems with vaginal tearing and urine retention problems following birth. (The Discovery Health reference that was supposed to back up the validity of routine c-sections.) We all know that a really large baby is one reason c-sections are done today, but to avoid pelvic floor problems on all women? Come on.

I'm so sorry to hear about the woman whose baby died from herpes following a c-section. Maybe antivirals would have prevented that? I really am not trying to be insensitive, but obviously a c-section did not save the baby's life.

I have not heard mention of one credible source that one could follow-up on that recommends c-sections for all women with herpes as one writer asked for.

As parents we all need to do what we feel is right, and that's what we should do. It really is a personal matter, but to date the experts (not ER nurses) in the medical community are going for medication in most cases, and don't think c-sections are blanketly needed for women who have herpes. And thanks so much to the wife of an OB/GYN who shared with us that she is pregnant and her huband IS NOT recommending a c-section simply because she has herpes. If that doesn't say it all, I don't know what does. Susan

[This message has been edited by SusanM (edited 11-23-2002).]

[This message has been edited by SusanM (edited 11-23-2002).]