Pregnant w/Herpes HELP! I'm so scared.

[LouisaT]

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.

[creekwalker]

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.

[christie s]

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).]

[SusanM]

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.

[SweetMarie]

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).]