Genital Herpes and Pregnancy

Pregnant women who are giving birth during their first Herpes outbreak may pass the virus onto their baby. This is very dangerous, because a baby who is born with Herpes can encounter serious health problems or even death. If it’s not the mother’s first outbreak, there is a much smaller chance for the baby to contract Herpes. A C-section delivery may be used in cases where there’s a threat for the baby.

Your doctor can recommend antibiotics or other methods to keep you and your baby safe from Herpes. Also, avoid breastfeeding your baby if you have open sores near your nipples. You can pump milk and bottle feed your baby if you do. This helps prevent your breasts from becoming too full. But if the milk happens to come in contact with sores during pumping, it should be thrown away immediately.