Pregnancy with HSV 2

[HealthSeeker17]

My husband and I have been in a monogamous relationship for the past 12 years and we were tested for the three major STDs 12 years ago before intimacy, but were never tested for HSV. In the past few years, we were experiencing health issues and infertility. In my online quest to find out why, I found that we could do an HSV blood test from home even though neither of us had ever had or noticed symptoms. Both of our results came back positive for HSV. We know we’ve been monogamous and it has just been in our relationship from the start and we don’t know from whom it started, but it doesn’t matter. I had a confirmation blood test at my gynecologist’s office.

I did IVF and found that while I was on medicated vaginal estrogen I had what I think were outbreaks for the first time. Can outbreaks show up as one single blister? There were other times I thought I had a couple blisters while on the estrogen. However, since I’ve been off the estrogen, I haven’t had any sort of outbreak. Can synthetic estrogen or any other medications cause an outbreak?

Thankfully, I’m expecting and my OB said I will go on Valacyclovir starting at 36 weeks. I thought I also read somewhere during delivery not to let doctors break the water, use forceps, or a vacuum because it puts babies at higher risk of contracting HSV. Should I be sure to try to avoid these during delivery? Are there any other recommendations you have to keep the baby as safe as possible during delivery?

Also, I am scared that we may accidentally pass it to the baby in the first few months of life. Is it possible that we may be contagious on our hands, chest, or have it orally as well and not know? I think I have seen what could be an outbreak on my husband’s leg, but he never had it tested. After a minor surgery, I had a rash where a monitor was on my chest, had it swabbed at the dr.’s office, but the results were inconclusive. What are precautions we should take to keep our baby safe after baby’s arrival

[Terri Warren]

I agree that the procedures that you describe should be used only when really necessary at delivery. Another thing to be concerned about is fetal scalp monitoring. That is usually used with caution in women with HSV.

You don’t tell me if you have HSV 1 or HSV 2. Have you had lesions swab tested and typed?
That would be a factor in my response to the questions about baby contagion

Terri

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