Cold sores and pregnancy, although rare, can be serious concern for new mothers who suffer from the herpes simplex virus. It is understandable to be concerned, so let’s take a deeper look into this health issue.

The herpes simplex virus that causes cold sores is not a genetic condition, meaning that you can’t automatically pass it on to your unborn child. The cold sore virus is only spread by coming in direct contact with someone who is infected.

Cold sores and pregnancy can be a health concern during the delivery of your baby. If you are about to give birth and have an active cold sore or herpes outbreak around the birth canal, your doctor will do a c-section delivery instead to protect your baby from coming in contact with the virus. It’s important to note that if you have herpes, but are not currently having an outbreak, a normal delivery should be fine.

Studies have shown that women who have had the herpes simplex virus long before becoming pregnant are at a very low risk of infecting the baby.

The one area that is of greatest concern is if you contract the herpes virus for the first time during your pregnancy. There will be a very high likelyhood of passing it on to your baby. Neonatal herpes as it is termed, can be fatal to your baby. You must get in contact with your doctor immediately if this occurs. Since Neonatal herpes is not a reportable disease in many different states, it is impossible to know exactly how many cases there are each year. Estimates put the number at 1,000-3,000, so cold sores and pregnancy are a concern to be mindful of, especially if you have had them in the past.

What is more amazing, and quite sad, is the fact that 5%-8% of all newborn babies who contract neonatal herpes get the virus by being kissed from an adult who has an active cold sore. While this is hard to believe, it points out the fact that you have to be careful in who is around your new baby.

The best tip in regards to having cold sores and wanting to get pregnant is to talk with your health care provider beforehand. Regardless of whether you currently have an active herpes outbreak, or if it has been years ago, talk with the medical experts and get all your questions answered in regards to cold sores and pregnancy.

By Terry Edwards

What would happen if a baby got herpes during delivery or as a newborn?

About 30% of the time, newborn herpes affects a baby’s skin, eyes, or mouth, but will usually spare his other organs. He may have sores at delivery or develop them up to four weeks later. Herpes outbreak will usually happen up within the first 2 weeks.

Herpes lesions generally look like blisters and often appear where there has been a small break in the skin or any trauma — like the wrist area where a name tag was tied or where an electrode was placed to monitor his pulse rate. If your baby has herpes that’s restricted to the skin, eyes, and mouth and received prompt treatment with intravenous acyclovir, he’ll will not develop any complication. Research showed that 90 percent and more of babies with such form of herpes developed normally. Some babies, however, have serious recurrent outbreaks or long-term problems. If left untreated or treated late, a baby has herpes lon skin, eyes, and mouth can develop an even more serious form of herpes.

Some newborns whose central nervous system are affected will develop symptoms such as irritability, fever, lethargy, poor feeding, or seizures at 2-3 weeks old. Other newborns might get disseminated herpes, which involves multiple organs like the lungs and liver. Disseminated herpes typically shows up during the first week after birth and the babies may or may not have skin lesions. These forms of herpes can be very harsh to newborns and even with prompt treatments, some babies will die. While survivors will end up with serious long-term health and developmental complications.

Additional Reading: Stop Herpes Now & From Coming Back for Good by Dr David Hogg

The biggest worry with genital herpes during pregnancy is that you might transmit it to your baby during labor and delivery. Yes, it is true that you can transmit herpes to your baby during labor and delivery if you’re contagious or “shedding virus,” then. The risk of transmission can be higher if you get herpes late in your pregnancy.

Though less commonly, you can still transmit the virus if you’re having a recurrent infection. This is because the virus remains in your body and can become reactivated if you had an outbreak.

In rare cases, a pregnant woman may transmit the infection to her baby through the placenta if she gets herpes for the first time in her first trimester. If a baby is infected this way, the virus can cause serious birth defects.

Additional Reading: Stop Herpes Now and From Coming Back For Good by Dr David Hoggs