Herpes

[sugarpop]

Yep I said it...

So I need advise or thoughts or any reasearch you ladies have or found or just know.

My husband was diagnosed with herpes, I have no idea type 1 or 2, about 3 years ago. He had that one out break and never another one. He took valtrex to clear it up and hasn't taken anything since. We continued to have unprotected sex...because honestly I don't know if I can avoid it for the rest of my life so why make ourselves crazy. Apparently type 1 or 2 can show up on genitals...and that is why I have no idea what type it is.

So I am now 30 weeks along, never had a blood test for it, never had an out break and have no idea if I even have it. So I mentioned it to my MW, she suggested taking valtrex starting at 36 weeks. Apparently if I have an outbreak, then I will be forced in to a C-Section...my worst nightmare! So the Valtrex would be more of a preventative.

So the MW says there are NO side effects...but can I really believe that? She said it is a safe as tylenol...having trouble buying that one! So help me please...what would you do?

I thought about having the blood test at 34 or 36 weeks seeing how it comes back if negative just not having sex until after the birth and if it is postive then starting Valtrex...but I don't even know if this is possible!

HELP

[BelovedK]

I would take the Valtrex, I had to have a csection for that reason with my oldest son. I didn't even know I had it until I was pregnant and it seems that pregnancy brings out things like that. It flared up right at the time of labor and I basically found out right before I gave birth that it was going to have to be a cs

It gave me no side effects

[Madders]

There can be possible side effects with all medication.
Here's a list of the common side effects with valtrex: http://herpes.emedtv.com/valtrex/val...e-effects.html

[sugarpop]

I can't find anything negative about valtrex and being pregnant! So either it is really safe...or they don't know what tell us because they don't know yet.

I am not concerned about a headache or nasea or even dizziness...I mean these days that stuff sounds like a normal afternoon. I guess I will take it...but I am not happy about it. I haven't even taken a single tylenol the entire time I have been pregnant...grrrr

[MyZoeJane]

I had my first and only outbreak ever when I was about 20 weeks pregnant with my first DD 6 years ago. I took Valtrex the last 4 weeks of my pregnancy and was able to have my vaginal (albeit horrible forceps) birth.

Even though I have never had an outbreak since, I know I am a carrier for the virus (thanks DH!) and it can rear it's head at any time... especially during pregnancy when the immune system is already taxed.

I will take the Valtrex again this time second time around and will do so without hesitation. It has been well studied to have no measureable side effects. Do I buy that? Maybe not completely... but as far as drugs go during pregnancy, this is definately one of the safer and better tested ones!

If it will prevent a breakout which would lead to a necessary c-section, there's no other choice in my mind.

[jillmamma]

I found this article on it. HTH!

[AmberLynn]

Ive had herpes for 4 years. DH does as well. I haven't had but maybe one outbreak since, but DH has been getting them VERY frequently during this pregnancy (obviously stress related). My dr seems confident I'll be able to deliver vaginally, but also prescribed me Valtrex, which I have yet to fill. My DH takes it daily, and still continues to have outbreaks AT LEAST once a month . But only since the beginning of the pregnancy. He is very healthy, and takes his vitamins, is a chef, so he eats well... but stress is a bastard!
I have been taking L-lysene since about 20 weeks. And according to my dr even if I have an outbreak, the chances of spreading to my little one are actually quite low.

Best of luck to you!

[cristeen]

Herpes outbreak does NOT = automatic c-section. Geeze! Some people need to read up on the current research. It drives me nuts when medical practitioners keep spouting crap long after it's been disproved.

We had this discussion fairly recently... let me see if i can dig it up for you, since it has the links in it.

Here it is: http://www.mothering.com/discussions...php?t=1104434&

[MyZoeJane]

Originally Posted by cristeen

Herpes outbreak does NOT = automatic c-section. Geeze! Some people need to read up on the current research. It drives me nuts when medical practitioners keep spouting crap long after it's been disproved.

We had this discussion fairly recently... let me see if i can dig it up for you, since it has the links in it.

Here it is: http://www.mothering.com/discussions...php?t=1104434&

It does when it is "policy" at a hospital! Not everyone has the option to birth elsewhere....

[cristeen]

Originally Posted by MyZoeJane

It does when it is "policy" at a hospital! Not everyone has the option to birth elsewhere....

I'm not talking stupid hospital policy, which BTW can be fought. I'm talking medical necessity. It was presented as being medically necessary to the patient, and it is not.

[guestmama9916]

*

[freckledgirl]

Safefetus.com is a great website for looking up meds.

http://safefetus.com/DrugDetail.asp?...x&TradeId=3452

[Night_Nurse]

Any med you take carries some risk and can be passed to the baby. That said, I've taken care of many patients, both pregnant and post-partum, and no side effects have been encountered to my knowledge. Valtrex is considered pretty benign for pregnancy and breastfeeding.

[Greenmama2AJ]

The biggest risk is a primary outbreak. Unfortunately, you don't think you have had an outbreak, and that means you might be at greater risk.

I would take the valtrex - save yourself the stress.
In my opinion, taking valtrex is less stressful than the guilt of passing on Type 2 to your baby (which can end up in their eyes and on their face, hands, body etc) or having a c-section. If you had caught the disease years ago and you knew that you had coped with multiple outbreaks in the past and had developed immunity (which you would pass onto your baby) then I might think twice about it.

But if you were unlucky enough to have a primary outbreak during those final weeks it would really be a serious thing.

[MyLittleWarrior]

Originally Posted by Greenmama2AJ

The biggest risk is a primary outbreak. Unfortunately, you don't think you have had an outbreak, and that means you might be at greater risk.

I had my first outbreak when DS1 was about 8 months old. When I was pregnant with DS2 I took the Valtrax for the last 4 weeks and had no problems. I have also read that the risk of transmission is highest with a primary outbreak, and stress can tend to bring on an outbreak, and let's be honest, pregnancy is stressful. I would take the Valtrax just for the peace of mind. It's possible you don't have it, DH hasn't had any signs and we've been having unprotected sex for 4 years (obviously ), but you can't be sure. I got it from a guy I dated in college who I knew had it, but we tried to be careful. It was years after we broke up that I had my first outbreak. This pregnancy I'm seeing a DEM instead of an OB, and my OB won't write a prescription for a pregnant patient unless they are directly under her care (don't get me started on that BS) so I'm going to talk to my MW about natural suppression since it's been over a year since I've had an outbreak. I've also heard of women using clear nail polish or super glue to cover an active outbreak if they have one at the time of delivery. For you, my biggest concern is that if you have an outbreak, it would be your first one and not only do most people feel pretty crappy during a primary outbreak (flu like symptoms on top of the actual sore) and probably not in prime laboring condition, but the risk of transmission is highest during a primary outbreak. In this case I would lean toward the risk of the medication being less than the risk of complications from an active outbreak at the time of labor.

[madre441]

I decided to choose natural treatment, because I believe that the most effective treatment have already been created by nature. I found a few and wound up going with HSV-Zero.

It safe for pregnant women, it has like a dozen natural ingredients in it that they show tests results for. I've been very happy with it.

[cristeen]

Yet another really old thread dug up out of the ether. 

[Imakcerka]

Oh my... maybe I'll do some digging for fun... don't they go into archive after awhile?

 

Originally Posted by cristeen 

Yet another really old thread dug up out of the ether.