Hello. I've been with my husband for 7 years. I've never had STD's or anything like that, however he always get cold sores on his mouth and we never knew that even oral sex would transfer that. I am not positive, but I'm pretty sure I may have contracted it. Anyways, I am due in about 2 weeks to have my baby and I have heard if you have herpes you have to have a c-section and i really dont want to do that. I have 3 little bumps "down there" is there anything I can do to get rid of them before delivering??
Great info ClarifiedMom!!! She is absolutely correct that testing for HSV is not a standard part of a prenatal panel....many other things but not Herpes. I work for a testing laboratory and only call on OBGYNs.
It is incorrect that herpes is included in an STD panel when you are pregnant. You to ask for it separately. You have to catch the lesions as soon as they burst, otherwise, you may get a false negative.
Cold sores and genital herpes are both the herpes virus. One is above the belt (HSV1), and one is below the belt (HSV2). You can have HSV1 genitally, and HSV2 orally also. This is why it's important to get a blood test so you know what you're dealing with.
The herpes virus (which is family of about 25 viruses, including chicken pox and mononucleosis) lies dormant in your system until it becomes activated. You could have had it all along and never knew, or your husband could have given it to you way back when. It also stays with you forever. So if anyone else is reading this, and you have cold sores, please tell your potential partners about them. If they catch it (because it's extremely contagious) they can't get rid of it. And if you give your partner oral sex with a cold sore, you can give them herpes genitally.
If your unborn child comes in contact with the Herpes virus, it can be fatal. Their eyes (ocular herpes) can become infected, as well as their brains (herpetic encephalitis) You should have told your doc a long time ago about your husband's cold sores. YOU NEED to tell your doctor...immediately, like, yesterday. You have to remember, you have an immune system. The baby has none, and cannot fight off the virus.
Last but not least, don't take the advice of peeps on Mamapedia as sound medical advice. Please go to your OB.
You need to speak with your Dr. about this. This is not something to be taken care of by yourself.
If it came down to it, I'd rather have a c-section, then give my baby herpes.
Please check with your doctor. You need correct information. For example herpes is a virus and cannot be treated with an antibiotic. I know. I have herpes break outs from time to time.
Only a doctor can tell you if you have herpes. I do suggest that unless they are quite sore and you're feeling achy all over these are probably not herpes. The first break out usually makes one ill.
There is a prescription drug (acyclovier sp?), when taken within the first 24 hours of a breakout, that MAY shorten the breakout.
You really need to talk with your doctor about this.
Get your 3 little bumps diagnosed, by a Doc.
Then see what the course of action needs to be.
And your Husband, should get his cold sores looked at too. Since he seems to get them frequently. Has he ever been to the Doctor for it?
You BOTH, need to get it checked.
I think that you should go to the dr. asap and if they cannot get you in tell the office your concerns b/c they will want to know this in case you go into labor soon. Also, little bumps can be symptoms of other things and could even be as harmless as ingrowns, but I still thing going to the dr. asap is important. If it is herpes this is something you will unfortuantely have forever but you can take antivirals to clear up and outbreak or take every day to prevent them from occuring. I'm sorry this is happening, but know that alot of people have herpes and have healthy pregnancies and deliveries. If it is herpes they're going to want to get you on meds b/c you cannot deliver vaginally if you're having an outbreak. But please just go to the dr, b/c like i said, you never know it might not even be herpes!
I get little bumps south of the border when I'm pregnant- it's just a hormonal thing, just like the line down the belly, zits on my back, and other random wierdness of pregnancy. Check with your health care provider before you jump to conclusions!
You need to talk to your doctor about this right away. Immediately. If you do indeed have genital herpes, he needs to know that so you can have a game plan in place if you go into labor.
The bumps could be anything, but you don't want to guess and chance it. I've had cold sores all my life and no one else in my family has ever gotten them. I've also had shingles while pregnant and my doctors took it very seriously.
You need to get in for an exam right away. I know you don't want to have a c-section if it comes to that, but I'm sure you'll do anything to insure the health of your baby.
Best wishes.
Typically you don't have to have a C section if you have herpes because a doctor would give anyone with herpes an antibiotic to go on a few weeks prior to delivery (ETA: provided you've told your doctor previously). Since you're due date is imminent, I'd give her a call today to see what she wants to do.
ETA: Acyclovir is an antiviral drug used to treat herpes (I used the word antibiotic). That is what she would prescribe for you.
Ask your doctor what to do about the bumps.
You don't have herpes. Your blood work would have shown that early in your pregnancy and they would have given you medication to take to keep from having outbreaks.
Talk to your doctor! If you do have herpes and have vaginal birth it could be very tragic. Don't take any changes with your newborn. I have herpes, had 2 vaginal deliveries, never broke out before I delivered them. I told my doctors on the first visit. My last child was c-section but for other reasons, none relating to my herpes, really just wanted it and glad I had it.
Please talk to your doctor, do not be ashamed or anything, make sure your baby has a healthy start!
Get a script for ZOVIRAX, it will clear it up in a couple of days. You are correct, you can't have sores and deliver, it's very dangerous. But go in and see your doctor about this. Don't stress that you didn't mention your dh's cold sores to your doc before now. You still have time to suppress the virus so it doesn't affect your birth.
However, herpes is so common in the western world, people in Europe consider it akin to the common cold.
Cold sores are different than the STD's my son get's the cold sores and actually both of them do and I know they don't have them. If you are concerned about an STD you need to talk to your dr and more than likely they should have done tests on you when you got pregnant.
Go or CALL your dr. asap. They have seen and heard it all , do NOT be embarrassed. My friend used to be a rep for a pharma co. who sold drugs for herpes, Do you know 1 IN 6 PEOPLE HAVE HERPES and don't even know it?? Scarey stuff.
As far as I know, you do NOT need a c-section unless you have lesions present.
If you do have Herpes, the baby will be administered eye drops immediately after child birth to protect their vision. I'm not 100% but I believe the infection at the worse case scenario can cause blindness in the infant. If that doesn't get you to jump on this, I don't know what will :)
If you have it, you will need to be on a anti-viral drug NOW, you should be taking it weeks before childbirth. Good luck and Please let us know what happened? I hope you don't have it but good luck!
Get the doctor to look at it... I have had herpes (and it turned out to be the "cold sore" type - down there!), but my doctor was keeping a close watch so that she could be sure to give me an anti-viral prior to delivery if I needed one. Good luck!
This is ONLY a question for your Doc, although you did get great advice
go to the dr they can swab for it. i thought my ex gave it to M. the same way when I was pregnant...he was the only guy i was ever with and I had bumps...they swabbed the bumps and I got the results in 2 days i kept getting swabbed 3 times during my pregnany all came back negative for the simplex...they put M. on the meds for it J. to be safe but i tested negative and dont have it (that i know of- apparently almost 70% of us have simplex one)...anway go to the dr. if you had an outbreak of it they would do a csection to protect the baby
BTW cold sores are the same as the std---doesnt mean it was sexually transmitted but it is the same---most stds dont need sex to transfer BTW
There is a good chance he contracted HSV1 (through kissing or general contact with a friend or family member who has cold sores) as a child..., HSV2 is the more virus that is usually associated with "genital herpes" although, oral to genital contact could cause you to get sores for HSV1...
Anyhow, definitely talk to your doctor about them at you next check up and have them checked out. You may need antibiotics but it could be nothing... the could be boils or ingrown hairs (not a cause of uncleanliness,,, just caused by body or hormonal changes in pregnancy, or just bad luck...) definitely do not try to self-treat them... rely on your doctor's expertise!
btw, wikipedia has great information about herpes simplex virus (cold sores or genital herpes) if you want to read up about it.
-M.
