Herpes and Pregnancy Risks Plus What Complications are There for Babies?
With the contraction of the herpes simplex virus (HSV), an individual will contract a common disease referred to as genital herpes. There are two different types of HSV and they are: herpes simplex virus 1 and herpes simplex virus 2. The first type of HSV generally affects the face by creating sores on the lips which are referred to as fever blisters or cold sores but it also has the ability to affect the genital region of both men and women. The second type of HSV is where genital herpes is derived from but it also affects the mouth. Herpes is one of the most easily transferrable sexually transmitted diseases in the world as it can be transferred during sexual intercourse or simply by kissing.
Herpes and Pregnancy What Do I Do?
As an expecting mother it is imperative that you take all of the necessary precautions in order to ensure that your child will be born healthy and happily. Although herpes may seem like a fearful disease to pass on to your child, individuals with herpes shouldn’t give up on their dreams of becoming parents. The reason as to why pregnancy can still occur is because herpes is generally spread from active skin infections. The only way that a child can be born with herpes is if they are born while the mother’s herpes infection is active. Women who have either strand of the herpes simplex virus have given birth for an abundance of years and so it is not an uncommon condition. When a woman is set to give birth while there are herpes sores around her vagina, a caesarean section will most likely be required. Herpes and Pregnancy might have obstacles but there are ways around them.
When a child contracts herpes it is known as neonatal herpes and it is not uncommon throughout the medicinal world. Before a child is born there are a certain amount of membranes protecting the child from contracting the disease so that it is not transferred from the mother to the baby. For extra precaution, your doctor or OBGYN will recommend that you take some anti-viral medication during your pregnancy to further prevent any further herpes breakouts near your due date.
Considering that both the HSV and neonatal herpes are extremely common, there are a variety of different ways that this particular virus can be stopped or halted during a pregnancy. With Herpes and pregnancy the implementation of anti-virals and the advice of your doctor, you can deliver a healthy and safe child without any worry.
