Re: [ozmidwifery] genital herpes in pregnancy

[Mr francis bowman]

Hi Nicole, I have had a client some years ago who had active genital herpes about three days before she went into labour.  Even though they were genital herpes, there was no apparent lession on her genitals. She had them on the inside of her thigh and on her behind.  She decided that she wanted to get an opinion from an ob, who had just come back from a conference on this topic.  He told us that the lession was only a problem when it was shedding (in the first few days when the the blisters are present).  He also discussed with us that while many ob's were operating to prevent contact with the infant there was in fact a chance of vertical transmission while the infant was still in utero.  Covering the lession with something is ok, so long as you can rule out if there are any lessions internally.  I'm not sure how you can do that!.  This mum spent a few days drying the outside lessions with a hairdryer and birthed a few days later with no complications.  I don't have any recent articles on this topic myself and would love to hear from anyone who has any or anyone who would like to share them with us. Sorry this probably doesn't help a whole lot. Hope you get some answers. Blessings Dierdre B. ----- Original Message ----- From: Nicole Christensen To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Thursday, April 15, 2004 11:01 PM Subject: [ozmidwifery] genital herpes in pregnancy Hi all, I posted a query last year re. genital herpes in pregnancy. I received one reply off the mailing list - thank you..... BUT would like to try again to see if ANYONE can give me ANY information or tell me of their experiences with women who have active lesions when in labour. With apparently 1 in 10 women suffering from genital herpes - this MUST be something that midwives are coming across in their practice. My girlfriend is 24 weeks pregnant - and unfortunately going with a private obs. He has TOLD her that if she doesn't have any active lesions when in labour - he will ALLOW her to try for a natural birth... BUT if she has a lesion - then it is an automatic c/s - no ifs or buts. (This is the same obs that gives his clients stickers for not putting on alot of weight in pregnancy!!! ) I just find it hard to believe that active genital herpes should automatically result in a c/s... and am infuritaed that my friend is TOLD what will happen when it comes the time to birth her precious first baby!!! The little info. I have got - says very explicitely, that genital herpes is really only a risk if the mother contracts it (for the first time) DURING the pregnancy. The chance of baby contracting herpes or complications related to the mother's genital herpes (if already having herpes BEFORE pregnancy) is I think, something as little as 0.04%!!!! SO, WHY IS THIS AN AUTOMATIC C/S????????!!!!!!!!!!! I have also heard of putting an op-site over the lesion during birth....(?????????). PLEASE - could ANYONE tell me of their experiences; any information they have.... or where I could find any information on it. With 1 in 10 women having this - it must be something that you are faced with at some time!!!!  Thank you! thank you! thank you!!! regards, Nicole