Question:
Hello everyone I'm new here.. And I'm very scared I'm 19 yrs old and contracted hsv around my 17th week of pregnancy I'm so terrified of passing this infection on to my unborn baby.... my main concern is passing it thru the placenta.... I have only slept with one guy my entire life and that's the same guy who took my virginity and is the father of my child.... we have been 2gether for 2 yrs b4 I got pregnant.... now that I am pregnant I find out I have this horrible diseases.... he has cheated on me in the past prior to me being pregnant.... I don't know if he has while I was pregnant.... anyways I did choose a c section delivery I'm due in nov... to me 1% is 2 much of a high risk and personally labor and childbirth me doing it naturally is not something I ever looked forward 2 but that's besides the point..... I'm terrified at this point in my life and highly stressed I pray everynight for the health of my child... I'm just so scared the virus crossed the placenta and infected my baby he does move a lot and everytime I have an ultrasound they say everything looks fine but that's just not enough 2 put my mind at ease... anyone with any advice it would be greatly appreciated thank you....:(

Answer:
Hi there. I am so sorry you are dealing with this at what is to be such a happy time of your life...I am not sure if you already read this information or not, but I included the link just in case....



Chances are rare that this will be passed onto your baby. I don't blame you for having the csection, if it gives you peace of mind and gives your baby that extra coverage/protection, then I say go with what your heart and soul tell you to do, and DO NOT LET ANY BODY BULLY YOU into doing what you do not want to (ie. Vaginal birth.)

Also, talk to you ob/gyn more about the risks of transmission at this stage to you baby during pregnancy in regards to primary outbreaks. Hopefully he/she is savvy on the issue of HSV.

As for your so-called boyfriend, I would string him by his balls and use him as a pinata. But that is just me. He is an ass for cheating, infecting you and potentially infecting your unborn child. I hope when you feel strong enough, you give him the heave ho. You can do much better than him.

Take care of yourself, eat well, stay strong, and take your prenatal vitamins. They are good for the baby and will totally boost your immune system.

Answer:
Thanks for the advice... I mean the baby seems fine eveyrtime we have an ultrasound and yes I have read the information u posted but when u fall into that 5% category it sure seems like 5% is way more than the 95% chance that u have that it may not cross... now I actually don't know if its a true primary being that we have been together for 2 years and he has cheated on me a couple of times b4 I got pregnant and after I got pregnant I don't know for sure if he has.... my doc said I can still deliver vaginally but again 1% is still 2 much of a chance.... I hope my little boy is ok... If something were 2 happen I wouldn't be able to live with myself I would most likely fall into this huge depression... I mean I have had like 1 bump b4 but I never thought it would be herpes I mean the outbreak that I had when I first told the doctor was like nothing I ever gotten b4.... it went away quick like in 4 days I didn't get any flu like symptoms either... I have long lasting antibodies now this is just so scary I don't even want him at the c section that's how pissed off I am... I have read other post from about 1 or 2 yrs ago where someone contracted it at 6 months and they had a c section and everything was fine I wish that could be me... I don't care that I have it I'm just worried about my baby.....

Answer:
Hey there.

You said one thing that stuck out for me:

"now I actually don't know if its a true primary being that we have been together for 2 years and he has cheated on me a couple of times b4 I got pregnant and after I got pregnant I don't know for sure if he has"

As I understand it, the biggest danger is when HSV is actually contracted during the pregnancy. It sounds like you don't know for sure that you actually contracted this during your pregnancy. Often hormonal changes like a pregnancy bring out previously dormant infections or intensify previously mild infections. So, you don't actually know that you fall into that catagory with the 5% risk. If I were in your position, I would be trying to keep that in mind, and focusing on staying as calm and healthy as possible.

What you are going through sounds really hard. Lots of hugs to you!!!

Answer:
Well that's my probelm right there I don't know if this is a true primary and also from what I heard true primary inections appear within 2 weeks of exposure.... the last time I had sex with him was like 1 month n a half b4 I had that outbreak... and again b4 that I used 2 have like 1 bump here n there but nothing like that outbreak so I never suspected I had herpes.... now he is the only person I have ever slept of had skin 2 skin contact with and it looks like he may be a asymptomatic shedder becuz I have never seen any lesions sore whatever on his genitals....now the outbeak that I had was when I was around 17 weeks prego which is the second trimester and at 20 weeks I had the fetal anatomy n everything seemed fine... I'm now 36 weeks scheduled for a c sec nov 9th..... I just don't kno anymore I'm so scared its not even funny.. And when I tried 2 tell him 1 day that he gave this 2 me he got pissed off and left the room 2 go sleep in the living room as if I was lying... I wouldn't make shit like this up... that would be stupid... since then we haven't talked about it he is so ignorant its so hard 2 explain this 2 him.... on top of that my family doesn't speak 2 me and I'm basically alone... I'm not working so he is the only on payin rent now.. And I need a place 2 stay other wise I will end up in a shelter with a newborn n that's not what I want......

Answer:
It sounds possible to me that you have not been recently infected. Realistically, your time of infection is completely unknowable and out of your control. Focusing on the scary possibility brings so much stress and does nothing to help you or the baby. It is just as possible that all is well. Try to accept that it is out of your control and unknowable. I believe that acceptance leads to calm, and calm will be felt by your darling baby. You cannot change the past; you can send the little one soothing love now.

Hang in there. Keep writing to us. This sounds so, so hard.

Answer:
Hello, I wanted to stop by and tell you my story.

I got HSV right before I got pregnant. I did have about a OB every month for the first couple of months during my pregnancy. I assume as others have said it was because of the horomones and all the changes my body was going through.

I just would always make it very clear to my nurses at the hospital whether I went for contractions or dehydration that I was HSV positive and to make sure they helped me keep an eye on it.

I had no problems towards the end of my pregnancy. I delivered a healthy7lb 10 oz baby boy vaginally with no problems whatsoever.

PLEASE don't stress over this. It will just cause more outbreaks for you and stress on your sweet baby. I can't promise you, you won't need a c-section in the end but I would only bother about it when you are in labor. And as long as everyone is informed and you don't feel any feelings of an OB I believe you will be fine. Just speak up if you feel any symptoms and the docs will know what to do.

GOOD LUCK and I am here if you ever want to talk. You can PM me.

Answer:
Have you told your care-giver how you feel and how terribly afraid you are ?
If you haven't please do at your next check up.
If there is limited time (probably), ask then to direct you to a counsellor, social worker or pastoral care worker at your hospital where you are booked for the C-section. Don't go home until you make contact.
Be as open as you are here. If you feel like crying, cry.
Remember the stats you were given - meaning if 100 women like you have babies, 95% will have no problems. Try to see the donut not the hole.

Please kepp us posted and good luck :)
I am a midwife and at my major teaching hospital where they send all the hard cases - newborns with HSV - rare as hens teeth - honest.

Answer:
Well I did tell my doctor how scared I was... and basically what he said was I'm glad u r looking at the negative side and not forgetting the negative outcome... I'm like well gee thanks.... so I just dropped it and let it go becuz after that he repeatedly kept saying ur fine! Well anyways u guys my c-section is this friday novemeber 9th 2007 so in a few days I will be in the hospital... I have 2 go for an amnio on wednesday the 7th becuz they have to test n c if the baby's lungs are mature enough..... well please pray 4 my baby and I...... ill keep u guys updated while I'm in the hospital I know there isn't any internet there lol but my phone can go online!!!