Normal Delivery

[pinkflamingo46]

I am wondering everyone's thoughts on having a normal delivery vs. a c-section. I know your doctor will monitor for OB's during delivery, but that small chance still makes me very nervous. Does anyone have any experience with a normal delivery they'd like to share? Thanks!

[WarriorKing]

Many women have normal deliveries. If you keep posting and join chat from time to time you should be able to get more information.

[foofyforever]

I haven't delivered yet, I'm due April 18th. And have talked to my dr and done alot of research on the topic. I'd be happy to answer any questions that you have now and then =)

[Canadian Daisy]

I have delivered all 3 of my children vaginally and all were fine. I took Valtrex in the second trimester and with the 3rd baby I even had an ob roughly 4 weeks prior and it was fine to deliver her vaginally. Just take good care of yourself, eat healthy and try to rest and let nature take it's course. If you wind up needing a section so be it, as long as you get the baby here safely that's all that matters! I am alos a huge advocate on breastfeeding...it does wonders for both you and the baby and those benefits last a lifetime Have a super day!

[lydia2]

Due in April also

I am looking forward to having a normal delivery, if everything is okay. I have read many women with HSV have normal deliveries and my doctor said its okay as long as I have no lesions when I'm about to give birth. I am on valtrex and continued to use it during my pregnancy because my boyfriend does not have HSV and I really don't want to give it to him, even if he doesn't care, I do. Hope your pregnancy is going okay, we're almost due!!

[startover]

I have delivered 3 healthy bouncy babies naturally with no problems. I have had herpes for over 15 years but too be honest have only been having ob's more in the last year ....

[whoopywoo]

Startover do you mean it took you 15 yers to have you forst OB or do you mean you OBs are more often now?

[daveygirl]

i deliverd normaly and everything went great just make sure even f u think ur gonna break out u let them know and they can give u the meds

[OptimisticOne]

Im scared because my out breaks use to come near my chest so i dont know if i will be able to breastfeed I feel so sad

[dixie19]

I have had a normal birth with my two kids my first is fine and my 2nd was born with hsvcns. it was horrible i wouldnt take the risk. i didnt kno i had herpes till i had him he is 7 mths old and is a mircle...I am pregnant with my 3rd and because i had a silent outbreak my son contracted it. I have opted to have a c-section...more power to ple that take that chance on reg. birth. good luck.

[peppermintpatty]

Despite the recent evidence that congenital hsv is quite rare in babies born vaginally to women who KNOW they are hsv positive and/or have antibodies they passively share with the baby, I have to agree with Dixie.

You can't get too comfortable with the statistics, especially when it might be YOUR baby who becomes that rare exception.

Doctors and insurance companies are convinced by the results of the newest research, so they don't implement or like authorize routine precaution protocol for HSV postive moms that was available years ago when I delivered my children. .

C-sections are hella expensive and carry higher liablities for the OB docs, so they are trying to reduce the number of surgeries performed.

Plus we are talking major surgery that carries its own risks of complications for mom and for baby, and that point is well -taken

However, I was surprised to hear from some HSV positive, pregnant women that their docs dont have any plan to do cervical cultures near their due dates.

For instance, HSV cervical cultures every week starting at 36 weeks. The cultures are very sensitive and detect those "slient outbreaks" like the one Dixie experienced. In fact, I had to request that my own OB do cultures. He agreed it was a good idea, but I think he was somewhat reluctant

At 38 weeks gestation, I had one of those cervical cultures come back positive, but I had no obvious symptoms whatsoever. I safely delivered my son by elective C-section. If cultures were negative, I could have attempted a vaginal delivery with pretty good reassurance the virus wasnt present.

Everyone please understand our points of view. I for one, and I'm sure Dixie as well, are NOT trying to scare women or hype up a point based on our own personal experiences.

Speaking from experience, I believe every woman should at least be aware of all the unexpected dangers and be aware of her options.

When you inform you doctor of your HSV status, you have the right to expect that all reasonable precautions will be taken for a safe delivery

Regardless of what the "routine medical protocol" may be, or how intimidating our doctors are, we have to be outspoken advocates for ourselves and for our children.