Question:
Hey there...reading about pregnancy and herpes scared me. I had abtained herpes from a cheeting boy friend. And now unfortunetly, I get to live with this. I am very scared about what i read about passing it on to the child during your pregnancy, is there really such a high risk of passing the virus to the fetus. :?: I started to cry when i read the information. If this jerk took away my chances of having a baby i will be devistated. and is there anything that can be done to prevent it from attacking the fetus?

Answer:
My friend has herpes for years and has had 2 kids since than. I read that it is better to contract it prior to pregnancy rather than during. Also from what I understand that you can have a very healthy pregnancy but at the time of delivery you will need a c section if you have an active sore.

You will be fine as far as being able to have your children. Good luck!!

Answer:
Hi Lily
I am a 34 yr. young woman who has been infected with the virus at birth. I can school you a little bit about what I know except for one factor that you would need to do research on & ask experts about. That is about the posibility of having a location that is inside the uterus. I am unsure if that is a posibility. My belief would be if you have a location there then the fetus could be infected.
What I can share with you is the locations outside the body. It would be sensible to not have an ob during pregnancy or childbirth but not completely realistic. Obs are many times out of your control. Stress and diet are no. 1 causes of ob. Once an ob occurs it's there. Stress is hard to manage sometimes but harder when we carry this virus because an ob can occur almost immediately when stress levels rise. So to say "not to have an ob during pregnancy or childbirth" is not always realistic esp. since it is stressful on the body and emotions.
Speaking for locations outside the body, during pregnancy baby will be fine. It is when baby is being born that you need to be cautious & careful. Make sure it is clear to doctors that you have the herpes virus. When you go into labor your doctor should check to see visually if you have an active ob on your private. You must make sure you request that he check. If you do have active ob that is when you need c-section.
The reason I was infected at birth was that no one talked btwn parents and doctors. Perhaps my mother didn't say anything, perhaps the doctors didn't check but whatever the case there was a lession present at time of my birth. My story is complicated more by this. I am a second born twin and was a breech baby. The only child of her 6 children that is h-virus positive. I have a picture of me at 3 yrs with ob. My theory is that the activity of my twins birth broke the lession. Then the doctor brought the
h-virus fluid into the uterus while reaching in to turn me around touching me with infected hands, even if it was gloved. Turning me around and pulling me out and holding me with adult males hands just put me in the situation I am in today. My obs cover areas on face mainly mouth nose and right eye and my buttocks mainly mid area and right cheek. I have very little by the crease of my leg and private. The nurses and doctor(s) did not wash me in iodine. My new virus dna went undiagnosed. Later in infancy the doctors reported that I had unexplained recurring rashes. Years later I found out I have neonatal herpes symplex 1 & 2. My years as you young child was spent with numerous ob on face, embarrasement, low self esteem and depression.
I still have these feelings. I continue to educate myself on this topic and learn how to manage and deal. Often though I still feel alone at times of ob. I guess there is no other choice. It is my disease, my body's dna. It is a dna that dominates and has control. It is a constant battle. I average an ob a week. I have to change my diet completely. I have to learn stress management.
Since I have had this change in dna for 34 yrs it has depleted my immune system to a degree where my immune has a hard time fighting the disease. The virus depletes the immune disease fighting system which causes more frequent and severe ob. Somehow I still try to find the blessing side in it all. Still struggling...Black Orchid

Answer:
Dear Black Orchid.... I am so sorry, it is so awful. Makes me feel like a whimp if I cannot deal with my genital herpes. I just cannot believe what you have to go through. You must be really strong emotionally to be able to handle this situation.....
I wish I could give you a hug...

Answer:
Rini,
Thank you Sweetie. It makes me stronger and feel more at ease to have others who understand and express care and concern. Thank you so much for your hug. :D
It is hard to deal with it, every single time. But like any new situation that comes into your life all you need to do is educate yourself, learn new proper methods and techniques to be effective with your new situation and develope your environment to suite those needs. One of the main ingredients for a new found happiness is total acceptance and forgiveness.
Don't harbor any hate or anger toward someone or something you cannot change or eliminate. It makes it hard to move on. Accept inside you that you do have a virus that is now a part of you and is now a part of your new self care. And change how you care for your self.

A few examples of things that can change a persons life and the way they once used to do things are:
Automobile Accidents that leave you crippled
Marriage and family; having children then a second and a third
Having cancer, a stroke or a heart attack
Menopause
Loosing a breast
Loosing a loved one you depended on
Having gum disease and loosing all your teeth


This is to say that we as people are adaptable.

If you need any help Rini I will help best I can. Thank you again for you compassion.
Black Orchid

Answer:
I just love you for sharing that.
My obs are minute in comparison. I can't comprehend the impact this must have had on your entire life. I had no idea that that could happen. I thank you for teaching and wish I could sit an talk with you for hours so we both won't feel so alone in this.

God bless and take care.