One of the most crucial risk factors associated with pregnancy is when the mother also has genital herpes. Although the chances of transmitting the disease to your child are quite low, there’s still plenty of care that needs to be taken. Let’s see how.
Known as one of the most commonly transmitted diseases in both men and women, herpes is caused by the herpes simplex virus. It comes under the banner of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) and can be transmitted from one sex partner to another even if the transmitter shows no visible signs of it.
There are two types of herpes. The first type, caused by the HSV1 virus, is oral herpes, and is seen in the form of blisters and sores in the mouth area. The second one, caused by the HSV2 virus, is known as genital herpes. More than 1 out of 6 US adults have herpes, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Herpes usually spreads due to oral sex.
Although herpes isn’t commonly passed on from a mother to the baby during the gestation period, it can be passed on during vaginal delivery. This can cause your baby to be born with a condition which goes by the name of neonatal herpes, a far more complicated form of herpes. This happens when the child comes in direct contact with maternal secretions. Remember, neonatal herpes can be fatal and must be taken seriously.
According to research, about 2% of women in the US are known to have acquired herpes during pregnancy, and were at high risk of transmitting it to their babies during delivery. As per another study, neonatal herpes mostly takes place if the mother acquires herpes in the later trimesters of her pregnancy. Similarly, women who got affected by genital herpes before they became pregnant are at lower risk.
The problem with acquiring herpes in the later stages of the pregnancy is that there is less time for the mother’s immune system to produce the antibodies that will be required to protect the baby.
If a woman acquires herpes long before the pregnancy takes place, her body naturally transfers the antibodies to the baby through the placenta. These antibodies protect the baby when it’s making its way through the birth canal, because that’s where the virus mostly resides.
The way forward
If you’re a woman who has herpes, the first thing to know is that the risk isn’t too high. Only 0.1% of babies in the US are born with neonatal herpes. If you’ve become pregnant, make sure the first thing you do is inform your gynecologist or doctor that you have herpes. The doctor will examine you in detail and will determine the extent to which the virus is present in the birth canal. If you’re undergoing an active outbreak, opt for a Cesarean section, and not vaginal delivery. After the baby is born, keep a lookout for symptoms of neonatal herpes. These include skin rashes and a persistent fever. If the condition persists, take them to a pediatrician at your earliest.
As for yourself, for some relief against the symptoms of genital herpes, try our herpes protocol kits. These kits contain a wide range of essential vitamins which cleanse your liver and flush out all parasites and toxins. As a result you can get be free from pain and outbreaks. At the Underground Cure, we offer affordable kits for herpes and deliver them both in and out of the US. For further details, contact us online.