| Since genital herpes is a life-long, incurable condition, it is | | | | throughout the pregnancy * Avoid oral sex during |
| an issue that definitely needs to be discussed when a | | | | pregnancy if the male has facial herpes. * Get regular |
| woman is considering giving birth. While genital herpes | | | | checkups and discuss the prospect of a C-section. If |
| is not typically harmful to adults, when a woman is | | | | the expectant mother HAS genital herpes, the |
| thinking about becoming pregnant or if she is already | | | | chances of passing the virus to the unborn child are |
| pregnant, she and her partner must discuss the | | | | again, slim, due to the presence of antibodies in the |
| possible implications a genital herpes diagnosis may | | | | body that will be passed to the child. However, here |
| have on an infant. It is common for genital | | | | are some tips to reduce the risk even more: * Be |
| herpes-infected mothers to give birth without passing | | | | certain that your physician, obstetrician or midwife is |
| the virus on to their infant, even with normal vaginal | | | | aware of your genital herpes diagnosis. * During labor, |
| delivery. In fact, according to the American Social | | | | examine yourself for any genital symptoms( - sores, |
| Health Association, less than 0.1% of infants born in | | | | itching, tingling or tenderness. * Early in the pregnancy |
| America each year contract genital herpes during | | | | discuss the options for controlling an active herpes |
| delivery. A woman who contracts herpes before | | | | outbreak at the time of delivery. The choices are to |
| pregnancy passes herpes antibodies that her body | | | | carry on with a vaginal delivery or to have a Cesarean |
| has produced on to her fetus, which protects it from | | | | section. * Request that your physician does not |
| contracting the virus. Infants are more at risk of | | | | manually break the water around the infant unless |
| contracting the virus during later stages of pregnancy, | | | | necessary. The bag may help prevent any virus in the |
| particularly the last trimester, because the mother's | | | | birth canal from being contracted. * Request that your |
| body does not have time to produce antibodies to | | | | physician does not use a fetal scalp monitor during |
| pass to the fetus. If genital herpes is contracted during | | | | labor to monitor the baby's heart rate unless medically |
| the latter part of pregnancy, or if the mother has | | | | required. This instrument makes tiny punctures in the |
| long-standing genital herpes or symptoms during the | | | | baby's scalp, which may allow the virus to enter. Often, |
| time of labor, it is a good idea to opt for a cesarean | | | | an external monitor can be substituted. * Request that |
| section delivery versus a vaginal one. There are only | | | | doctors do not use forceps during delivery. They may |
| two situations where the fetus is at risk of contracting | | | | cause breaks in the baby's scalp, which may allow the |
| genital herpes: * During the first trimester, a severe | | | | virus to enter. * After delivery, closely monitor the |
| initial outbreak occurs that can result in a miscarriage. | | | | infant for about 4 weeks for symptoms of neonatal |
| This is very rare and can also occur as a result other | | | | herpes: blisters, fever, fatigue, irritability, or lack of |
| virus infections. * During the last trimester, a severe | | | | appetite. If any of these are noticed, take the infant to |
| initial outbreak occurs. This is risky because a large | | | | a doctor immediately. If these and other pregnancy |
| amount of virus is present with little time for the | | | | guidelines are followed, the infant is less likely to |
| mother to develop protective antibodies. Neonatal | | | | contract the virus. To decrease chances of outbreaks |
| herpes can be fatal but is rare in developed countries. | | | | during pregnancy, it is advisable to take some form of |
| Careful monitoring and use of treatment and/or | | | | treatment ( Many people opt for natural treatments |
| choosing to get a C-section can decrease likelihood of | | | | that have been proven to decrease duration, |
| neonatal herpes. If an expectant mother or her sexual | | | | frequency and severity of herpes outbreaks. Some |
| partner has genital herpes, it's important to tell the | | | | natural compounds have even been found to |
| doctor so that s/he will take the proper precautions. If | | | | significantly reduce the chance of passing herpes to |
| the mother is not infected, but the partner is, take | | | | infants. |
| these precautions during pregnancy: * Use latex | | | | Dylan Morris is a freelance writer and supporter of |
| condoms if you engage in sexual intercourse | | | | nutraceuticals, natural, herbal treatments for disease |
| throughout pregnancy. * To reduce genital herpes | | | | control and prevention. Visit for more information. |
| recurrences, the male should take oral antiviral drugs ( | | | | |