Question about neonatal herpes - Herpes Message Board

stacedmlm2005 · 05-25-2005, 02:52 PM

Hello all,

My husband and I just welcomed the birth of our first daughter on Friday, May 13th. What a lucky day! I had normal vaginal delivery and Molly appears to be absolutely flawless and healthy. Thank you God!

I had my first outbreak of genital herpes in my first trimester of pregnancy and am unsure how I contracted it. My OB followed me throughout my pregnancy and when I was 35 weeks pregnant I went on Valtrex once a day as a preventative. at 37 weeks my OB was concerned when she did an exam that there may be lessions and was considering doing a c-section at that time. She decided to put me on double the dose and induce labor around 39 weeks. The day of my induction I was examined by several Dr.s under a bright light and a thorough vaginal exam. (this was very humiliating but I would have done anything for the outcome of a healthy baby) At the time I wasn't 100% that I wasn't having any symptoms.. I thought maybe it could be my mine playing tricks on me.. I expressed to the dr.s that I felt nerve like pain that was very inconsitant. I expressed to my OB at that time if there were any doubt I really wanted to go along with the section. Well my Dr. was one of the dr.s that examined me that day and concluded that I did not have any lesions so we went ahead with the induction.

The OB dr. Started me with some medication to ripen my cervix at 10:30am and four hours later at 3pm the Dr. checked me again and my water broke and I delivered our beautiful baby 1hr and 43min later. I gave birth at 4:43 to a healthy baby girl. She will be 2weeks old on Friday. So, I didn't stay very long with ruptured membranes and there was need for internal monitoring.

Has anyone else with genital herpes had vaginal births and if so.. did you pass this along to your newborn? What should I be looking for as a sign that it could have been passed to her? and how long should I be on the look out for symptoms? Please share your experience with me.

Thanks,
A worried, new Mom,
Stacy

navysab · 05-25-2005, 03:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stacedmlm2005

Hello all,

My husband and I just welcomed the birth of our first daughter on Friday, May 13th. What a lucky day! I had normal vaginal delivery and Molly appears to be absolutely flawless and healthy. Thank you God!

I had my first outbreak of genital herpes in my first trimester of pregnancy and am unsure how I contracted it. My OB followed me throughout my pregnancy and when I was 35 weeks pregnant I went on Valtrex once a day as a preventative. at 37 weeks my OB was concerned when she did an exam that there may be lessions and was considering doing a c-section at that time. She decided to put me on double the dose and induce labor around 39 weeks. The day of my induction I was examined by several Dr.s under a bright light and a thorough vaginal exam. (this was very humiliating but I would have done anything for the outcome of a healthy baby) At the time I wasn't 100% that I wasn't having any symptoms.. I thought maybe it could be my mine playing tricks on me.. I expressed to the dr.s that I felt nerve like pain that was very inconsitant. I expressed to my OB at that time if there were any doubt I really wanted to go along with the section. Well my Dr. was one of the dr.s that examined me that day and concluded that I did not have any lesions so we went ahead with the induction.

The OB dr. Started me with some medication to ripen my cervix at 10:30am and four hours later at 3pm the Dr. checked me again and my water broke and I delivered our beautiful baby 1hr and 43min later. I gave birth at 4:43 to a healthy baby girl. She will be 2weeks old on Friday. So, I didn't stay very long with ruptured membranes and there was need for internal monitoring.

Has anyone else with genital herpes had vaginal births and if so.. did you pass this along to your newborn? What should I be looking for as a sign that it could have been passed to her? and how long should I be on the look out for symptoms? Please share your experience with me.

Thanks,
A worried, new Mom,
Stacy

Hi, first of all congradulations on the birth of your baby girl. I just had my baby girl on April 30. Sorry, I'm not much help with your question, I had no lesions at the time of delivery, but I had failure to progress, so I had to have a c-section, I wouldn't worry though, it is extremely rare to pass on the virus to your baby especially since you didn't have any lesions at the time of delivery.

hsvmom · 05-25-2005, 10:19 PM

Congratulations!

I also contracted herpes during my pregnancy (sometime during the last 8 weeks) and we have no idea how. Well, we assume I contracted it because my boys contracted it.

I can see why you have concerns, but at two weeks, if your daughter isn't showing any symptoms then she should be fine. Do make sure that the pediatrician is aware that you have herpes and you weren't 100% confindent that you were symptom free at delivery.

Some common early symptoms of neonatal herpes are lethargy, poor feeding, poor temperature control (fever or subnormal temp). Of course if you notice lesions (which can look like anything...donut shaped vesicles, blisters, or a yellow crusty sore for example), but only about 50% of babies with neonatal herpes will develop lesions. Ethan showed his first lesions at 7 days old, but it looked like the pricks from his scalp monitor were getting infected so we just kept them clean and dry. Then he developed 3 little blisters on his ear, and that's when we took him to the pedi (10 days old) who suspected herpes but wasnt sure. We took him home (it was a Fri) with a follow up appt for Monday and by Monday they were sure it was herpes, so he was 13 days old when he was admitted and got treatment. Most babies present within the first 9-14 days of life, some earlier and some later. The fact that your membranes weren't ruptured very long at all and that you did not have internal monitors is really good. In the absence of lesions and with your infection being established during your first trimester, the odds of transmission are definately iin your favor!

Again...CONGRATULATIONS!

stacedmlm2005 · 05-26-2005, 12:18 PM

Thanks so much to both of you for responding and giving some insight on what to be on the look out for. Navysab-congratulations on the birth of your daughter!!

Hsvmom,
Just wondering what the long term prognosis is for your sons? Will they have breakouts in various locations of their body? Thank you for sharing your experience with me. It eases my mind a little to know that she will be 2 weeks tomorrow and there are no signs of any blisters or other related symptoms. I am so thankful.

thanks again,
stacy

hsvmom · 05-26-2005, 08:47 PM

My youngest twin will probably not have outbreaks, although he could. He didn't develop any lesions as a neonate, so it's unlikely he ever will. My older twin will probably have outbreaks. They could be anywhere on his body, but because it is HSV1, the doctors said he will most likely have outbreaks either where his original lesions were (which was basically anywhere on his head or neck) or near/in his mouth. He's had a couple outbreaks already and they were on his cheeks and where his original lesions were.

The youngest's prognosis is perfect. Nobody will ever tell he was ever sick. The other developed herpes encephalitis, so medically speaking his prognosis is still up in the air. The doctors said we should expect some delays and/or disabilities as a result of the encephalitis and that they could even be severe. Developmentally he is actually advanced right now! So we don't expect any motor disabilities and his eyes and ears are working fine. Now we'll have to keep watching to see how his speech develops and whether he will have any learning disabilities, but so far so good!

We were really so blessed just to have them recover as beautifully as they did...especially the oldest with encephalitis!