Just found out.... Could use some guidence

[AuziNikol]

So I just found out I have herpes simplex 1, it is gentital and I'm having an outbreak.... I am female. I have a lot if discomfort from the sores which are now starting to open up. I have them on my labia and one near the area between my vaginal opening and anus. I'm 20 years old and also 21 weeks pregnant so this is all really scary to me. I'm worried about infection and how it will effect the baby. The dr said it shouldn't since I didn't get it in my 3rd trimester and if I have an outbreak when I'm close to my due date they will do a c-section so the baby is not infected. I may just ask for a c-section either way because I'm extremely paranoid. I just don't know how to deal with any of this. I've talked to my boyfriend already and we are waiting on his test results.

[JC81]

Hi, I saw your thread about washing.  When I first had outbreaks, I would soak in warm water and gently with soap during a shower. I also made sure the area was dry after and I applied corn starch onto it.  

[Scared4this]

I am sorry about ur diagnosis but there are good treatments out there for the outbreaks as Howard stated in his post.  Is this ur first outbreak?  Often times, pregnancy ( due to lower immune system) reoccurrence do tend to surface.  If u use ointment for ur sores/lesions.... Just make sure it doesn't contain steroid as Terri Warren ( herpes specialist) said it would make it worse.  
Congrats on ur pregnancy and make sure at the 3 trimester you go to the doc if u see any sort of uncomfortable feeling down there so they can swab to test for outbreak....
U can also go to herpeslife forum to get support as many ladies have hsv1/2 and gave birth to healthy babies just like anyone.  
Will be praying for u and a God bless, S

[HowardH]

Re pain control and washing (from your other question): Sitting in warm water often works. Also you can ask your doctor about maybe using an anesthetic ointment, which can take the edge off the pain. But as noted above, the most important thing is antiviral treatment.

[HowardH]

Sorry to hear of your diagnosis. But in the long run, this won't be as big a deal as you currently fear.

First, I hope you are on treatment with one of the anti-herpes drugs like valacyclovir (Valtrex), acyclovir, etc. That's the most important thing in getting beyond the pain etc; with treatment, healing should begin in the next few days, a lot longer without it.

Second, genital herpes due to HSV1 usually causes few recurrent outbreaks (often none at all) and little asymptomatic viral shedding, so it is not commonly transmitted sexually to new partners. Nobody wants genital herpes, but if it happens, HSV1 is definitely preferred over HSV2.

Third, your doctor is exactly right about the risk to your baby. It will be low, and recurrent outbreaks that might require C-section can be prevented with treatment.

There are excellent resources about genital herpes. Start with the American Sexual Health Association (www.ashasexualhealth.org) and Portland OR's Westover Heights Clinic (www.westoverheights.com), and especially with the free herpes handbook on the Westover website; or an excellent book by Ebel and Wald, with a title something like Managing Herpes: Living and Loving with HSV, which you can find at Amazon.com or the ASHA website.

Good luck with it. Things aren't as bad as they seem right now!