Help my friend is scared for her unborn baby, She is 28 ?

Question

My friend is 28 and pregnant with her first child, about 5 weeks along. She has herpes and wants to know if she is putting her child at risk. She has never had an episode ever. She only found out because her boyfriend cheated on her and wanted to check for anything, to her surprise her doctor told her she had herpes. She has never had an issue at all, but is now worried if it will affect the baby and how? please help so i can get her the info she needs.

Answer 1

No she isn't. There are plenty of mothers that have herpes and have children. The only way is MAY pass it is if she has an active outbreak and she has a vaginal delivery. If she does, the doctor can opt to do a c-section, but chances are slim that she would pass it to the baby.

Most people have H.S.V (herpes simplex virus) anyways, not genital necessarily, think about how many people get fever blisters or cold sores... that is H.S.V.  ;)

Answer 2

she will have to have a c section, because she can spread it to the baby only when it comes out through vaginal birth.... it passes to the baby through the canal. tell her good luck!

Answer 3

The baby will be fine.  My friend had c-sections with both of her children so there was no worry about going through the birth canal.  Her children are fine

Answer 4

The baby will be fine.  Prior to delivery her Doctor may prescribe  an anti-viral as precaution to make sure there are no active lesions.  But it doesn't have to be an issue. I did not have to have a C-section. Vaginal delivery.  My son is perfectly healthy.

Answer 5

She'll have to have a c-section and the baby will be fine.

Answer 6

No it is not a problem.

There is a very tiny risk that a woman who has herpes and is experiencing an outbreak at the time of a vaginal delivery can pass the virus on to the baby. However, it is very rare, and usually only happens when the mother catches herpes for the first time during the last trimester of her pregnancy. In a UK study of all cases of neonatal herpes, NO mother who was infected with herpes at the start of the pregnancy passed it on to her baby.

A c-section is only performed if the mother is actually experiencing an outbreak at the time of delivery. Also, anti-virals can be given to the mother prior to the birth to make an outbreak less likely. If your friend has never had an outbreak, she is unlikely to start now.

She is not alone. One in four pregnant women - and one in two in New York - have genital herpes. The vast majority of babies are born with no complications.

My sister, like me, has genital herpes, and she has had three healthy babies via vaginal delivery with no problems. This is the norm. There is some hysteria over pregnancy and herpes that is completely unnecessary.

Answer 7

Just tell her to relax. I know she is going through alot at once right now, but she'll be alright. Make sure she attends all of her appts. anything out of the ordinary go to the doctor. It's better to be safe then sorry later. Be supportive of her through these times and let her know that you have her back. She will have to have her baby c-section due to the risk. My friend was in the same predicament, but she now has a healthy beautiful baby. Just be there for her. Good luck