Pregnancy and birth w/herpes - stories, advice? - Herpes Message Board

windinmyhair · 08-29-2006, 08:43 PM

So the good news is that I have been able to control my ob's. It only took, what, a year and a half??

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?

cantelopecat · 08-30-2006, 01:24 AM

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.

Shanlo · 09-02-2006, 02:45 AM

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

Smileygal · 09-18-2006, 03:53 AM

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.

red13 · 09-25-2006, 09:37 PM

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?