Having Children with Herpes
Recently, more and more questions about herpes and kids as follows are received,we consulted the STD expert on PositiveSingles.com and provide some useful information for you:
Can People With Herpes Have Kids?
Having Children with Herpes
If both parents have herpes does increase the chances of the baby getting it?
Can you have kids if you have herpes?
Can a man with genital herpes virus father children?
Can herpes affect my pregnancy and newborn?
How can genital herpes affect my baby?
Can my baby catch herpes after delivery?
Will I be able to breastfeed if I have a herpes outbreak?
Can having genital herpes harm my baby?
What are the risks from having genital herpes during pregnancy? Will it hurt my baby?
How Can I Get Pregnant With Genital Herpes?
Getting Pregnant With Genital Herpes
First, you can have kids no matter you have hsv1 or hsv2.
Herpes is not a genetic condition, It cannot be passed on from parent to child in this way. Herpes is also not spread through blood, saliva, breast milk，semen or vaginal fluids, instead, the herpes virus is spread by direct skin to skin contact. Therefore, no matter you are men or women with herpes, you can have kids.
Second, How to avoid the baby to get herpes?
Infants cannot contract herpes while in the womb. There is, however, a risk of neonatal herpes if the infant comes in contact with the infected area during delivery, this risk is most likely if you have signs if an outbreak during or before delivery. Talk with your doctor before delivery. Your baby may have to be delivered by c-section to prevent infection.For the newborn baby,
- If you, your family, friend or relative has an active outbreak and kiss the baby, Herpes maybe be spread. Take care to avoid the cold sore coming into contact with the child.
- 5% – 8% Babies can also contract herpes from being kissed by someone with a cold sore. Newborn children cannot fight off infections as easily as an adult can, So you should take actions to protect them.
- An infant with herpes can become very ill, causing eye or throat infections, damage to the central nervous system, mental retardation or death. By the time a baby is around six months old, his/ her immune system is better able to cope with exposure to the virus.
- If you have an outbreak of genital herpes, be sure to wash your hands before touching the baby
- Be sure to take all the necessary precautions not to spread the virus to a young child
Third, Can I breastfeed if I have herpes?
Yes, you can. As long as the infected area does not come into direct contact with the child there is no particular risk in holding your baby, breastfeeding or having your baby in bed with you.Four, Decrease chance of passing Herpes to non-infected partner.
- Limit unprotected sex to only your most fertile days.
- Have unprotected sex only if you don't have any herpes outbreak, tingling or soreness around your genitals, even if you are at the most fertile time of your cycle.
- If you both have genital herpes, then no need to have unprotected sex. However, if either of you have open lesions, you should still avoid unprotected sex, even if you are at the best time in your cycle to get pregnant.