Poor me...a little graphic

[sistermama]

Well, I have just come to the belated conclusion/realization that the vaginal irritation I have been having on and off for about 8 years is actual genital herpes. Why in the world did it take me so long to figure this out? It does say on one of the main websites that GH is often confused with yeast/sweat/clothing irritation problems - which I can think of about 6-8 episodes of starting about 8 years ago. I've been having a lot of irritation that hasn't been effectively treated with anything and somehow herpes just popped into my head. So I looked pictures and symptoms up online and got out the mirror and sure enough - there is no doubt.

Irritation (which I now know to be an outbreak) got a lot worse about this time when I was preg with Jack and then was gone for the entire third trimester. This outbreak that I have now is the first I have had since that one. I'm actually not freaking out about it, don't know why but I'm not. Maybe because 20% of Americans have it! ;) I got out my Family Herbal and went to Whole Foods this morning and picked up a bunch of stuff. Still have to tell dh, but figure if he's going to get it, he probably already has it. He won't care.

I've decided for now against telling my mw, since I think this risks me out of homebirth in Florida, and I don't want to put her on iffy ground. If I have an outbreak as we get closer to the end, I'll tell her then. After the extensive reading that I have done today, I have decided that I will go ahead with a vaginal delivery. The rates of transmission for someone who has had the infection for years are infinitesimally small, even if lesions are present at the time of delivery. (I know that none of our Sept. mamas would do this, but please to anyone else, don't post how I'm horrible mother for not doing a c-section and my baby will probably be horribly damaged. I measure my risks.) Considering that I have had so few outbreaks though, I think I can manage diet, etc. to not have a repeat one this pregnancy. Plus I need to try and manage stress, too.

So, that's my sad story. At least I know the source of my awful discomfort and can finally now work on getting myself some relief.

[chrissy]

Oh Sarah, what a bummer! Good thing you are so smart though and were able to learn about it rather than just freak out. It sounds like you've got a good attitude about it too. And you're right, now that you know what's going on you'll be better able to treat it.

:hug and :love

[JenInMpls]

Poor Sarah! :hug

I wish you good luck in managing it so that everything goes just the way you want it to, and without any complications!!

xo, j

[chumani]

Sarah- Hugs and healing to you!! One of my older sisters has herpes, she has had all 5 of her children vag, 4 at home. Her midwives were fine with it. They recommended a supplement of lysine and it has now been 4 years since her last outbreak.

Best wishes!
Sarahb

[Caroline248]

So sorry you have to deal with that....have you ever been to the doctor to get the irritations checked?? I think we all know here that you would not be negligent. Well, maybe..... :)

[Mom2baldie]

Sarah,

I have 2 friends who have herpes (that I know of) and during their pregnancies one of them ate raw garlic every day to ward off an outbreak close to delivery and the other took something called Lysine? She found it at a health food store. They both had vbacs! Both of their 1st cesareans were because of outbreaks during the 39th-40 week of pregnancy.

[Mom2baldie]

Also, one more thing, since you have already had a few outbreaks thats good because it means you already have antibodies to the virus! Ive read that its most dangerous when its the very 1st outbreak.

P.S. I have HPV and although its not the same thing as herpes, its still an STD. When I first found out I have it I was totally disgusted with myself, but my midwife told me that almost 80% of the adult pop. has HPV but only about 10% ever have symptoms. It made me feel better. :)

I think you and baby will be fine and Im glad that you are not freaking out about any of it.

AND, if you would like to, I can give you my friends email address so you could talk to her about it. She knows practically everything about herpes and pregnancy and is a great person to talk to if you need support. Just LMK!

[fourlittlebirds]

I'm sorry you are having to deal with this. :(

Here's some info that might be helpful:
http://www.midwiferytoday.com/enews/enews0433.asp#news
http://www.herpes.com/pregnancy.shtml

[CdnAloha]

Sarah, you are handling this so well. I don't think any of us would think badly of you. It is obvious you are being smart about it and handling it responsibly. The important thing is that you take care of you, and of course staying relaxed about things is going to help.

<<Big Hug>>

Julia

[msrog]

Linda, thanks for the helpful web sites!

Sarah, I got herpes in college but have only had that one outbreak. I had a normal vaginal delivery of ds, and plan to also with my twins. Thanks so much for posting this thread, because if I had an outbreak at delivery this time I wouldn't have known just how small the risks really are for me (more than 10 years old virus for me), and now with the info you and Linda posted I am armed and ready for anything! =O)

[sistermama]

I love you mamas. Thanks for all the great support. :love

[mother4good]

Sarah, you are handling this so well! I got it in college from my highschool boyfriend who was...not practicing monogamy...shall we say. I was stupid enough to just ignore what is now so obvious. :duh I was really crushed by the whole thing. My husband, who is just an amazing person anyway, has never batted an eyelash about it. Even when we had the excruciating conversation when we began dating. But 10 years later, I am still embarassed to tell doctors. I am not sure why, except that we are like the typical suburban minivan-driving, church-going family--I hate the idea that people would think I am dirty or that I was a slut. I know this is probably dumb, given that I do not judge people like that, but I still feel ashamed of it.

Anyway, you are smart to look at the facts and keep your emotions out of it. I have had two vag. births. For me, I tend to break out alot during pregnancy (even though it is not in the vag area at all--that is another story), so I have been on a viral suppressant in the last few weeks- just in case. This pregnancy, I have had very few breakouts, which I attribute to the prenatals I am on, which include a healthy serving of Lysine. It has been great!

My last MW told me current research indicated that if you have had it for a long time, there is no risk to the baby anyway, because the baby has your antibodies for the strain you have. My current MW is still among the C-section for active outbreaks crowd, so I am starting the suppressant next week (35 weeks).

Good luck with everything!