What About HSV, Pregnancy & Nursing?

Becoming pregnant is a significant concern for every woman with herpes because it's possible to transmit herpes to the newborn infant causing neonatal herpes. Here's what you need to know.

Herpes being transmitted from mother to baby before birth is extremely rare, especially when a mother contracts genital herpes (HSV-2) before conceiving the child. However, transmission can occur when visible lesions occur at the birthing time. In this case, most mothers opt for a cesarean birth.

There does seem to be more risk if a mother contracts herpes for the first time during the last trimester of pregnancy. If the mother continues to have recurrent infections throughout the pregnancy, doctors may prescribe antiviral medications, such as Acyclovir, which is ruled safe for the baby, although I'm not convinced.

Say, mom does not have genital herpes (HSV-2), but dad does. During the pregnancy, to be safe, the mom might abstain from sex, use condoms 100% of the time, or have the dad use antiviral medications to prevent transmission to the mom.

If you're already living with the herpes virus or contract it while pregnant, please let your doctor know to keep you and your baby safe during this sensitive phase. Speaking of sensitivity, some mothers find pregnancy difficult or stressful, which may trigger more frequent breakouts.

Herpes isn't transmitted through breast milk. However, there are things to be careful about when it comes to nursing.

• Always wash your hands before handling the baby.
• If a sore is anywhere on your breast, do not nurse.
• Use a breast pump and bottle feed the baby with your breast milk.
• If you can't pump your milk without the pump touching a sore, toss the breast milk into the garbage or down the sink. Don't give it to the baby. Keep pumping until your sores heal to keep up your milk supply. The baby can have formula during this period.
• Once the sores are completely gone, you may resume breastfeeding.

If you have cold sores (HSV-1) or any other herpes sores on your face, don't be tempted to kiss your baby or snuggle the infected part of your face against your baby's skin or hair. The herpes virus can be transmitted to the baby.

If the prospect of motherhood seems daunting in the presence of the herpes virus, I'm here to tell you it doesn't have to be. All of this will become second nature to you. I promise. You can still live your best life, and so can your child.

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