Sweeping membranes? A bad idea?

[muppet7979]

Hi Grace and others. You've offered some great advice in the past and I'm hoping I can ask you just a couple more questions...I am almost 38 weeks pregnant and have HSV1 genitally. I have had it for well over a year now. As my last pregnancy went really overdue and it took several days/methods to induce me (I was not HSV positive at the time), my doctor has suggested sweeping my membranes at 38-and-a-bit weeks to get things moving. When I asked him about the risk involed given the HSV1, he said that he would proceed very carefully and not be overly-agressive in his 'sweep'. Although I'm all-for getting things started, this procedure still makes me a bit nervous. As long as the bag of waters remains intact, should the baby still be safe from any potential outbreaks/shedding that might unexpectedly follow?

Also, given the fact that I have only had the initial outbreak and one minor one 6 months later, I am insecure in my ability to recognize a genuine outbreak. During my pregnancy, I have experienced what I thought to be prodromal symptoms (buttock pain, flu-like symptoms, soreness) and nothing materialized. Other times, small fissures have appeared and healed within a day, without any other typical HSV characteristics. Any/all of these things can be attributed to pregnancy OR to HSV... How do I know which one I'm dealing with? When the Dr on call at the time of delivery asks if I have been experiencing any prodromal symptoms, I cannot honestly say No... But I can't offer a confident Yes... Which may lead me to a c-section without just cause.

Any advice is so very much appreciated. I fear the closer I get to delivery, the more I start to panic. I just want to do everything in my power to ensure a safe, healthy baby. I toggle daily between proceeding with a vaginal delivery and just flat-out demanding a c-section. :(

[gracefromHHP]

CONGRATULATIONS!!!

I wish you and your baby the best of health :)

grace

[Mistakeguy789]

Woohoo thank you for the update.  I am glad to hear you and your new baby are doing well!  :-)

[muppet7979]

Hi Grace.
Just stopping by to say that I had my baby last week via c-section. I got the OK to deliver vaginally however after 12 hours of labour and a high fever, the doctor felt a c-section was best. Either way, we are both safe and sound and the baby seems healthy and unaffected. Thanks again for all your advice. :)

[gracefromHHP]

odds are these aren't herpes going on. it's unfortunate that your provider hasn't done more for you about them :(  

[muppet7979]

I haven't been tested for any infections... Although I am quite familiar with yeast infections and confident that I would recognize one. I mentioned the fissures to my doctor and he said it was quite common in pregnancy and speculated that they were from the many, many washroom-breaks and wiping... He also mentioned that if they were present at delivery, it would probably lead to a c-section due to the possibility of them being a non-typical presentation of HSV.

I guess I'm wondering; if this IS an outbreak, is it typical for it to be so short-lived in nature? I mean, the initial OB was extensive, agonizing and lasted for weeks. These symptoms/fissures last a day or two, and never follow the stages of a classic OB. They just disappear.

It seems like regardless of an actual OB or not, ANY symptoms that I mention are going to lead to a c-section anyways. *sighs*

[gracefromHHP]

it's the same dose regardless of weight.

have they tested you for yeast and bacterial infections vaginally?  have you shown your fissures to your obgyn?

[muppet7979]

Hi Grace.
Yes, I'm on 500mg of Valtrex, twice daily since 36 weeks... But to be honest, I feel as if the symptoms of an outbreak, and these little fissures I've been getting have actually increased since I've been taking it... I am a larger person, nearly 300lbs including pregnancy weight. Perhaps I should be on a higher dose?

I just don't know what to do. I'm so torn. :(

[gracefromHHP]

there's no reason why this would be a risk because of your hsv1 genital infection as long as you don't have an obvious recurrence present .

did you and your gyn discuss you being on daily suppressive therapy in the pregnancy doses for the last month of pregnancy to help reduce the risk of having a recurrence close to labor?

grace

[muppet7979]

bump

[muppet7979]

Thanks so much. My Dr's appointment isn't until wednesday so hopefully Grace will see my questions before then. Much appreciated.

[Mistakeguy789]

I would love to answer your question.  Though I honestly am not sure and don't want to give you the wrong advice.  Grace is away for the weekend.  Given your question is pretty important I would highly recommend you come in on monday and bump your question up.  I will try myself to keep it on the front page for her to see.