Herpes and getting pregnant: How to protect your baby

Can you have kids if you have herpes? A diagnosis of genital herpes can feel devastating. Once the shock wears off, you’ll find that you can continue to do a lot of the same things you could before. You can have a fulfilling life . And yes, you can still have kids if you have herpes, too.

Does herpes affect your pregnancy and baby

Can you have kids if you have herpes? Women who experience genital herpes during pregnancy generally have normal births and healthy babies. However, there is a small risk of complications if you have herpes while pregnant. The risk depends on what stage of pregnancy you are at and whether you have had attacks of genital herpes before.

herpes affect your pregnancy

If you have already experienced a genital herpes attack before you got pregnant, you will have developed antibodies to the herpes virus. Therefore, the risk to your unborn baby is very low as these antibodies will protect your baby from the virus.

If you have your first attack of herpes during the first trimester of pregnancy (the first three months) then this carries a small risk that you will miscarry. There is also an increased risk that you will pass the virus on to the foetus.

If you contract genital herpes at a later stage of pregnancy, the risk of passing the virus on to your unborn baby is higher. The risk is particularly high if you have a herpes attack around six weeks or less before you are due to give birth. What are the symptoms?

How can Herpes harm a baby?

A mother can infect her baby during delivery, often fatally. Herpes simplex is most often spread to an infant during birth if the mother has HSV in the birth canal during delivery.
HSV can also be spread to the baby if he or she is kissed by someone with an active cold sore.
In rare instances, HSV may be spread by touch, if someone touches an active cold sore and then immediately touches the baby.

Pregnant women with genital herpes should be careful -- but not overly worried -- about passing the virus on to the baby.

Which babies are most at risk?

The risk of infecting the baby is high (30% to 50%) when a woman is newly infected late in pregnancy, however. That's because the mother's immune system has not developed protective antibodies against the virus. Women with an older herpes infection have antibodies against the virus, which help protect the baby. If you are pregnant and think you may have been infected recently, tell your doctor right away.

Pregnant women who have a history of Genital Herpes

If a woman had genital herpes before getting pregnant, or if she is first infected early in pregnancy, the chance that her baby will be infected is very low -- less than 1%. Women with genital herpes are examined carefully for any symptoms before giving birth. If sores or signs that an outbreak is coming show up at the time of delivery, the baby may be delivered by cesarean section (also called a C-section).

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How Can I Get Pregnant With Genital Herpes?

If you are pregnant and you have genital herpes, you may be concerned about the risk of spreading the infection to your baby. Be reassured that the risk is extremely small—especially if you have had herpes for some time.

The following steps can help make the risk even smaller:

Talk with your obstetrician or midwife. Make sure he or she knows you have genital herpes.
At the time of labor, your healthcare provider should examine you early in labor with a strong light to detect any sores or signs of an outbreak. Let your provider know if you have any signs of an outbreak—itching, tingling, or pain.
If you have an active outbreak at the time of delivery, the safest course is a Cesarean section to prevent the baby from coming into contact with virus in the birth canal. If you do not have an active outbreak, you can have a vaginal delivery.
Ask your provider not to break the bag of waters around the baby unless necessary. The bag of waters may help protect the baby against any virus in the birth canal.
Ask your provider not to use a fetal scalp monitor (scalp electrodes) during labor to monitor the baby’s heart rate unless medically necessary. This instrument makes tiny punctures in the baby’s scalp, which may allow herpes virus to enter. In most cases, an external monitor can be used instead.
Ask that a vacuum or forceps not be used during delivery unless medically necessary. These instruments can also cause breaks in the baby’s scalp, allowing virus to enter.
After birth, watch the baby closely for about three weeks. Symptoms of neonatal herpes may include a skin rash, fever, crankiness, or lack of appetite. While these can be symptoms of several mild illnesses, don’t wait to see if your baby will get better. Take him or her to the pediatrician at once. Be sure to tell the pediatrician you have genital herpes.

Can herpes cause a miscarriage?

You might want to know herpes and miscarriage risk. There is no evidence at all that herpes causes miscarriages. The highest risk for herpes and pregnancy is when a woman contracts the virus for the very first time during the third trimester. Some research shows that women with unexplained recurrent miscarriages are more likely to have an undetected HSV infection than women with no history of miscarriage. However, it's unknown if the virus actually plays a role in causing miscarriages for those women. Most women who are infected with HSV do not have recurrent miscarriages, so doctors need to conduct more research on herpes and miscarriage risk.

Similarly, a few researchers have found evidence that the virus could cross the placenta and lead to damage of the placenta, potentially increasing the risk of late pregnancy loss. Doctors don't understand what factors cause this to happen, given that the majority of infected women do not have this problem.

Genital Herpes Treatment During Pregnancy

Women taking antiviral drugs for herpes -- either daily suppressive therapy or occasional therapy for outbreaks -- should consult their doctor about whether to take the drugs during pregnancy. The answer is not set in stone: You and your doctor have to discuss the risks and benefits to decide what's right for you.

How to protect the newborn baby

Herpes infection in a newborn is also serious. Do not allow anyone with a cold sore on the mouth to kiss the baby. If you have a cold sore, don't kiss the baby, and wash hands with soap and water before touching the baby.

For Partners of pregnant Women

If your partner is pregnant, and she does not have genital HSV, you can help ensure that the baby remains safe from the infection. Find out whether you have a genital HSV . Remember, approximately 20% of sexually active adults have genital HSV, and most do not have herpes symptoms. If you find that you have the herpes virus, follow these guidelines to protect your partner during the pregnancy:

Use condoms from start to finish every time you have sexual contact, even if you have no herpes symptoms. HSV can be spread even when no symptoms are present.
If you have genital herpes outbreaks, abstain from sex until the outbreak has completely healed.
Talk with your health care provider about taking antiviral medication to suppress herpes outbreaks and to reduce the risk of herpes transmission between outbreaks.
Consider abstaining from intercourse during the last trimester. Explore alternatives such as touching, kissing, fantasising, and massage.
If you have cold sores (usually caused by HSV-1), avoid performing oral sex on your partner when a cold sore is present.
Your partner needs to tell her doctor if you have genital herpes so that all the issues can be discussed.

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Herpes and getting pregnant: How to protect your baby

Does herpes affect your pregnancy and baby

How can Herpes harm a baby?

Which babies are most at risk?

Pregnant women who have a history of Genital Herpes

Have herpes & feel alone? Meet nearby people with herpes

How Can I Get Pregnant With Genital Herpes?

Can herpes cause a miscarriage?

Genital Herpes Treatment During Pregnancy

How to protect the newborn baby

For Partners of pregnant Women

Have herpes & feel alone? Meet nearby people with herpes

Know more facts about living and dating with herpes:

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