Sunday, May 27, 2012
Saturday, August 23, 2008 Girly55 asks

Q: If my mother has herpes and has a baby will that baby contract the virus

My mother has had herpes way before I was ever born, I just found this out I have never had an outbreak and I was wondering if I could have contracted the virus through birth

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Answers (2)
8/24/08 6:26am

No, when women give birth with herpes, they perform a sea section. The reason for the sea section is; if your mother was in outbreak at the time of labor, you could have gone blind by passing through the virus. The virus is located under the skin in the genital region. It is only spread by skin to skin contact. I'm pretty sure you safe! I hope that was the answer you were looking for. Laughing

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8/24/08 6:22am

It is unlikely...

The herpes virus is a sexually transmitted disease so you have to catch it by being in contact with the effected area.

Since your mother had it before you were even born, she has antibodies for herpes present in body. Those antibodies were in the placenta while you were in here body so it protected you against it. The only way you could have got it, was when you passed through the birth canal and came into contact with an open sore.  Today, if the mother has an open sore at the time of delivery, they deliver the baby c- section so the baby doesn't contact the open herpes sore.

I think you should get tested just to ease your mind but I feel confident in this information I'm giving you.

 

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By Girly55— Last Modified: 12/25/10, First Published: 08/23/08