Pregnant w/ herpes concern

Hello, I am 37 weeks pregnant with herpes and I have a couple of concerns. I have been on suppressive since 30 weeks because I kept having outbreaks. I've read online many ppl take acyclovir 400mg 3x daily however I am only taking acyclovir 200mg 1or2x daily. I asked my doctor, whom I trust by much about that however she informed me that they only give 200mg for suppressive therapy and it works fine. I haven't had an outbreak since ive been on it, but I'm just scared that I may not know the prodimal signs when is time for labor and say I have or haven't had them and make the wrong decision. The only thing I have is slight itching sometimes and I get so paranoid, but I know we itch down there sometimes. And I'm scared about passing this virus to my child , I got the virus before I got pregnant but only like 4 months before. Does that make a difference? And sometimes I get razor bumps and be scared they are herpes bumps but they never have blisters on them? Is that the only way herpes bumps show up, with blisters that is ? I'm sorry for such a long question but I'm just scared and need to know. Also is it okay for the doc to break my water, and or strip my membranes? Thank you for any advice or comments

[gracefromHHP]

your provider is very wrong :(  Encourage your provider to review the research and better acquaint herself with the proper doses to best serve her patients.  

the doses for pregnancy for suppressive therapy are 400mg 3x/day. You are naturally immunosuppressed with pregnancy and need the higher doses to have any effect on reducing shedding. 200mg 1 or 2 times a day is NEVER an appropriate dose for suppressive therapy for herpes. Any provider who prescribes that is at risk for malpractice.  

since you've had genital herpes prior to pregnancy, no obvious symptoms at the time of delivery and the risk of transmission to your baby during birth is less than 1%. The daily suppressive therapy during pregnancy actually doesn't reduce that risk but what it does do is help to increase the odds of not having an obvious recurrence near the time of delivery so you can have a vaginal delivery which is still preferred over a C section for both mother and child.  

does your partner have herpes?

http://westoverheights.com/herpes_handbook/index.html  is the link for the free herpes handbook written by Terri Warren, our herpes expert here on medhelp and one of the leading herpes experts in the world. There is a whole section on pregnancy that I encourage you to read.  no, stripping the membranes and breaking your water are not encouraged during pregnancy for women who have genital herpes.

keep asking questions :)

grace

[stephl81]

I have genital herpes and had a healthy baby boy after I contracted the virus. I had the virus for about two years before I got pregnant. From what I read and understand there is ALWAYS a chance you can pass it to your baby during a vaginal delivery BUT the chances are less likely if you contracted the virus before you got pregnant, you have informed your doctor/midwife of your condition and you take suppressive therapy in the third trimester. The doctors will give you an exam while in the delivery room and if there are any signs of lesions they will perform a C-section. Yes we all have tingling and every time I feel a tingle or twinge down there, the little voice in the back of my said is saying "outbreak! outbreak!" most of the time it’s nothing.  Just inform your doctor if you feel tingling while in the delivery room. I ended up needing a C-section but for other reasons non-herpes related. You can always request they don’t break your water, strip your membranes or use those scalp electrode thingys that can cause small abrasions on the baby’s head. It is YOUR body after all. Hope that helps!

[lr1989]

Thankyou for replying back. So its not okay to break you water while in labor? I'm not sure what's the difference between them doing it, or it breaking on its own when you have the virus. I'm so lost, I try to educate myself as much as possible but I get so scared like I should just have a c section and I really don't want to do that. & I asked my midwife about the dosage & she assured me that's the dosage they give to all their patients. I was wondering if I should just double up on my pills on my own because I have more prescriptions left. And she said they could strip my membranes as long as I'm not having an outbreak or else they would give me a c section. I just don't know how anyone truly knows whether its safe to deliever vaginally or not. I'm soooo scared. And yes my partner has herpes to, so I didn't even know if we should have sex now since I'm at the end. Neither of us have outbreaks anymore, but who knows if we're shedding. I just needed to know what to do, and have some reassurance.  Thankyou for your comments

[gracefromHHP]

if you don't have an active lesion at the time of delivery, no reason for a c section just because of herpes. the risk is far too low to warrant it.

encourage your midwife to better educate herself!!!

your partner has herpes, having sex isn't an issue. He won't put herpes in your vagina for the baby to come in contact with or anything like that.

yes, you are still shedding the virus. Studies show you shed about the same amount whether you have 0 ob's a year or 10 ob's a year.

[lr1989]

Okay thankyou for the information. I have one last question if you could help me, I don't go back to the doctor until friday so I was trying to find info on it. I have a bump that pops up about every other week on the lip of my vagina next to my clitoris. The bump never hurts but sometimes itches, and it look like a lump under the skin. No color to it , no head on it or anything. I trim down there about every other week so I believe it may be a razor or hair bump, I dnt get them anywhere else just there. My husband said it doesn't appear to be a herpes bump but with my history I be scared it can just look diff. I don't know. Every outbreak I have are blisters but this is just different. Can it be a herpes bump or do you think its probably a razor or hair bump? Please help. That's it. Thankyou for what you do, truly appreciated!

[curious232]

I had to have c-section done, when I was in labor for my child. Because I was active at the time. It is dangerous to have natural birth when there is a active breakout.

[lr1989]

Yea I know, & I will most def have a c section if I need to . I do not want to put my child at risk. I'm scared of even trying natural just because of the risk, ppl just keep trying to reassure me its okay. But , as a mom... That thought of a risk if still to much.

[gracefromHHP]

your bumps sounds more like something normal than herpes - have it checked out next time you have it to find out.  

it's impossible not to worry when pregnant! Having herpes just gives you 1 more thing to add to the list of things to worry about.  Hang in there - you'll soon have a beautiful healthy baby in your arms to hug the stuffing out of :)

[lr1989]

Thankyou, that was much needed ;)


Be Blessed

[sshhaayy22]

I am 40 weeks and 1 day pregnant and every single one of ur concerns sound EXACTALLY like mine!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! i am scared to death of passing this to my baby but every1 acts like it is gonna be ok to deliver vaginally and i am sooo scared to cuz i feel like what if they dont see anything down there and i dont feel any outbreaks but he still gets it i will just die!

[waterwater]

has your doctor put you on valtrex?