Tell me about birthing with HSV

[AzariaJordan]

Have any of you experienced homebirth with an active herpes outbreak at term? So far I've always been able to help peoploe avoid them with diet (lysine etc) and lifestyle factors, and a few have chosen prophylactic valtrex.

If you do encounter an active outbreak at birth (not initial outbreak), what do you do for internal lesions? I am prepared with tape and / or glue for external lesions, but clearly this is not going to affect vaginal or cervical sources of HSV. I know a section is recommended in these cases, but I am in a region where that is highly unlikely to happen, so I am trying to be as prepared as possible.

Would love any thoughts or anecdotal stories.

[Reha]

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[momileigh]

Any chance that glue would work on the inside?

Interested to hear other replies...

[Maggi315]

The nurse midwife i somtimes work with told me she has a special kind of medical tape made just for herpes outbreaks to cover the lesions so you can have a vaginal birth, sorry I don't know more about it, just that it exists.

[Jane]

I have no experiences. Because the risks to the baby are so significant, I would advise against it. I do know of someone that had a lesion on her, uh, sacrum? And had a vaginal birth.

Do you have access to Acyclovir, the antiviral medication? It's pretty effective at preventing outbreaks.

If you're in a low resource area, I would be extra concerned about possibility of a sick baby - could they go to a different area for treatment? I've seen two babies with herpes after birth - they were quite ill with fever, and had IV acyclovir on board, with pain medication to keep them comfortable. The pain medication meant they needed lots of monitoring of vital signs to check for respiratory depression. But having talked to adults with outbreaks, I can't imagine having to let the baby endure dozens of lesions over the whole body.

If would be difficult to cover the lesion in a way that would prevent transfer of virus to the fluids in the vagina. You'd have to have them covered for at least a few DAYS before birth. Other than that, I'd hope the baby was born in the caul for maximum protection, although there are certainly case reports of c-section babies having herpes in the womb, with no known rupture of membranes.