Transmission to child

[aabbcc321]

Worried about genital HSV-1&2 transmission to child. 2 weeks ago I took a shower with my 6 month old baby. That evening I started having symptoms of an outbreak, I immediately started anti virals and I’ve been freaking out ever since. During our shared shower child was in baby bath tub while I washed myself, I briefly washed my hands with body wash, then immediately bathed my child starting with the hair and finishing with the bottom. Child has seemed fine other than diarrhea since that night which pediatrician thinks is being caused from ear infection and teething.
I will NEVER bathe with child again.
But Other things I’ve worried about is how much I have to wash my hands after doing things like restroom breaks, changing clothes, showering, etc. my hands are raw from washing them so much, and how long does this have to continue?
I’ve worn gloves to restroom and shower for 2 weeks.
I worry about soap and water splatter from washing myself in shower splashing on other parts of my body that baby might touch like arms and legs or breasts during nursing child.
I’m afraid to wear shorts in case my underwear touches my thighs then my baby might touch my thighs.
I’m stressed about child touching top of my pants that has to be pulled over my underwear in order to be put on, or the bottom of my shirt that touches the top of my pants.
I’m stressed over our dirty laundry touching or accidentally washing together.
I’m afraid to kiss, hold, change diaper, diaper cream, and bathe my child.
I’m also afraid to sit child in my lap or to sit on the couch and child possibly touch where I’ve sit or pick up a toy from the couch and put it in mouth.
I’m afraid for other people in the house to touch something contaminated and not wash their hands and then touch or change the baby. And if you can’t tell by now, yes I have severe anxiety. Especially now about this.

Please help. I’m not looking for someone to calm me down I just want truthful answers to all my concerns.

[auntiejessi]

I am so sorry this has distressed you so much.

The truth is that the only way your baby will get herpes from you is if you have inappropriate sexual contact with your child.

You are only infectious from the mucus membranes of the site you are infected. Since you have genital herpes,  you are only infectious from your vulva (external parts), vagina (internal parts), anus.

You are not infectious from your thighs, hands, butt cheeks, or breasts.

I do want to clarify that you said you have genital herpes 1&2. This is possible, but very, very unusual. How was this diagnosis made?

If you have oral herpes type 1, just don't kiss your baby when you have an oral outbreak ever, and don't kiss your baby on the mouth. The skin on their cheeks is too thick for the virus to penetrate.  Don't let anyone else kiss your baby on the mouth, and really - it's a pandemic. No one needs to be kissing your baby on the mouth. It's also cold and flu season. I'm not a new mom, but if I were right now, people would be masking around my baby, for covid, colds, flus, etc.

Water splatter doesn't transmit it. Herpes requires direct skin to skin contact to transmit - mouth to mouth, mouth to genitals, genitals to genitals, genitals to anus.

Your hands will NEVER transmit this to your baby, in any way. EVER.  I mean, we are living in a pandemic, and washing your hands often is always a good idea (often if you are leaving the house and touching things, not all the time), but herpes has nothing to do with this.

Are you taking antivirals? That can help reduce your shedding, which I think might help you, mentally.

I would agree, and I am not a mental health professional, that you have serious anxiety, maybe OCD. Are you in therapy? Have you talked to your doctor about it? It's not unusual for new moms to worry about germs and their babies, but this is on a level that you need to talk to your doctor. (I say that only with compassion, no judgement at all.)

If you take nothing else away from this, remember this - you are not a walking, talking biohazard. Millions and millions and millions of women with herpes have had babies, and their babies are healthy.


Here is confirmation from Terri Warren, who is one of the world's leading experts in herpes -

https://westoverheights.com/forum/question/worried-hsv-2-transmission-to-child/

https://westoverheights.com/forum/question/whats-most-important-to-know-to-protect-an-infant-from-hsv-1/

I hope this helps. Postpartum anxiety and OCD are very real things. I hope you talk to your doctor, and remember that taking care of you is very important, for you and your baby.

[aabbcc321]

Thank you for your reply and reassuring words. Also, thank you for the links to the other forum. I can’t tell you how much you’ve helped calm my nerves! I do want to see a therapist soon. My anxiety is out of hand about several things and causing me to have OCD tendencies.

And to answer your question, my diagnosis was made via skin swab from lesion during initial outbreak, and a blood test. This was several years ago, 7 I think, so my memory is fuzzy. I just recall them saying the test confirmed I had HSV 1 and 2. I assumed I had hsv1&2 genitally considering I’ve never had a cold sore.
They did say that the hsv1 had been in my body a long time and the hsv2 was new.

Thanks again!

[auntiejessi]

Since your testing showed 1 & 2, it means that you have hsv1 orally, and hsv2 genitally, statistically. The vast majority of people who have hsv1 orally never get symptoms - around 80-90% - so it's not surprising you wouldn't.

It is possible that you have them both genitally, of course - you may never know if you never get a cold sore.

I hope you do talk to your doctor. Being a new mom is intense enough - postpartum anxiety and OCD is very real, and there are treatments. If you need the reminder - the best thing you can do for your baby is to take care of his/her mama. :)