subject: Genital Herpes Pregnancy - Important Information for Women Regarding Genital Herpes and Childbirth [print this page] If you are an expectant mother, it's a given that you want your child to be as healthy as possible and the birth to go as smoothly as possible for both baby and mother. Despite what you may have heard, if you have genital herpes, pregnancy and birth can still be a wonderful and safe experience, provided the mother is aware of the implications of the disease and takes all the necessary precautions.
Can Herpes Harm My Baby?
In very rare situations, a mother with genital herpes can cause neonatal herpes in a newborn child. Neonatal herpes is very, very uncommon, and there is a very low chance that a mother with genital herpes during pregnancy will infect their child. However, the small chance still exists, and the disease can be life-threatening to your child. By taking the right precautions, you can negate the risk and give birth to a happy and healthy baby.
How Can I Avoid the Risks Associated with Genital Herpes During Pregnancy?
Again, the risk is incredibly small, even if you have had herpes for quite a long time. Taking a few of the steps below will help reduce the risk even more, and give you peace of mind for your child.
1. Make sure your doctor or midwife is aware you have herpes, and know of your medical history with the disease. This includes medication, average frequency of outbreaks, and severity of outbreaks. This will allow your doctor or midwife to take the right precautions during birth to minimise the risk of spreading the virus to the child.
2. Ask your doctor to avoid breaking bag of waters around the baby, to use an external heart monitor instead of a foetal scalp monitor, and not to use forceps or vacuum assistance during delivery. All of these procedures slightly increase the risk of infection to the child. Your doctor will be aware of these issues if they know you have herpes, but you can reassure yourself by discussing these issues beforehand.
3. Discuss with your doctor a plan for if you are having an outbreak at the time of delivery. You may be recommended to have a cesarean section birth, or your doctor may proceed with a vaginal birth. There is no strong evidence to support either as a safer method for the baby, so it will depend on your doctor and the risk to you as a mother.
4. Watch the baby very carefully in the few weeks after birth. Symptoms of neonatal herpes include blisters, fever, tiredness, irritability and lack of appetite. These symptoms can also be a variety of other issues, but take your child to a pediatrician at once just to be safe.
5. Last of all, remember that genital herpes pregnancy is still very safe for your child, and the odds are in your favour for having a healthy, happy baby. By being informed and having your midwife or doctor informed, you've already reduced the chances significantly. Neonatal herpes occurs in less than 0.1% of births each year.
Even if you have genital herpes, pregnancy can still be the wonderful, life-changing experience it should be. Be informed and proactive, and you'll have a healthy and happy baby.
Genital Herpes Pregnancy - Important Information for Women Regarding Genital Herpes and Childbirth
By: Kari Banks
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