Pregnant With Herpes: Will You Transmit it To Your Unborn Child?

Pregnant With Herpes: Will You Transmit it to your Unborn Child?

If you have genital herpes and are pregnant you are undoubtedly worried about passing the herpes simplex virus on to your unborn child. Hopefully your doctor has talked to you at length about your options and how herpes will impact your pregnancy.

In the event that you have not spoken to your doctor about this there are a few things that you should know:

1. For starters you must talk to your doctor immediately. Testing for certain sexually transmitted diseases and other viruses is common place during a pregnancy. If your doctor has yet to test you or if you contracted herpes after the fact – it is imperative that you disclose this information immediately.

2. You probably know this better than anyone else, but herpes is a virus that is transmitted from skin to skin contact. Your unborn child is at no risk while he or she is in the amniotic fluids.

3. Because herpes is transmitted through the skin, there is a chance that you can pass herpes to your baby during the delivery. If you have a vaginal delivery and also have an outbreak at the same time – you can give it to them at that point. Due to the position of the baby, they can get ocular herpes or oral herpes.

4. It is very easy to avoid passing herpes to your child, your doctor will likely suggest that you deliver via a Cesarean section, this is where they cut open your abdomen and pull the baby out. By avoiding a vaginal delivery you have eliminated the risk of passing herpes through a vaginal birth.

The most important thing for you to do is to be honest with your obstetrician. If you have contracted HSV II during the course of your pregnancy you have to tell them.