Herpes and Pregnancy - How to Safeguard Your Unborn Baby

Herpes and pregnancy can occur at the same time. In fact 20% to 25% of pregnant women worldwide have genital herpes - some are active and some are asymptomatic.

Although the mothers-to-be are not at risk, the unborn baby may be in danger.

The degree of risk the baby faces is dependent on three major factors: 

The herpes infection timeline.

Whether antibodies are present in the mother-to-be.

Whether there has been enough time for antibodies to develop in the baby before the onset of labor.

Let me explain:

As a result of a herpes primary infection, the system produces antibodies to the particular type of virus involved.

If a woman contracts herpes, approximately six weeks after the primary outbreak the resultant antibodies in her system will prevent infection of an additional form of her particular HSV infection.

What's more important regarding herpes and pregnancy, after six to nine weeks, the baby will acquire antibodies via the placenta.

Once that has happened, it is extremely difficult for cross infection to occur while the infant is still in the womb. It also makes it unlikely that the baby will become infected if the mother happens to be in the viral shedding stage during birth.

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Herpes With Pregnancy - Things You Need To Know

The herpes simplex virus is contagious and can be passed on easily through direct contact. Children are likely to come in contact with HSV-1 from infected adults. Be it genital herpes or cold sores, once you are infected with herpes, it stays for life. There's a small risk of complication during pregnancy, if you are infected with herpes. But as the condition can be devastating, it is imperative to undertake and follow certain preventive measures that would reduce the risk of infection.

PROTECTING THE BABY DURING PREGNANCY

If a mother acquires herpes before getting pregnant, she is very unlikely to transmit the infection to the infant. The antibodies will protect the baby from contracting herpes. Moreover, doctors can help protect the baby with proper and suitable medications. In case the mother is infected during late pregnancy, the baby is at a greater risk and has a real chance to contracting herpes. The mother does not have antibodies to act against the herpes virus in this case.

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Beware TORCH at pregnancy

T O R C H

TORCH is an acronym of some infectious diseases would be dangerous innate to the fetus when a pregnant woman suffered. These diseases can easily infect the fetus in the womb of a mother who was pregnant. Disease that is part of the TORCH consists of several viruses and bacteria. TORCH is an acronym itself if some disease is described as follows :

• T: Toxoplasmosis or Toxoplasma gondii. In the Indonesian language known as toxoplasmosis.
• O: Other infections or other infections such as Hepatitis B, Syphilis, Varicella-Zoster Virus, HIV, and Parvovirus B19.
• R: Rubella, or in the Indonesian language known as Rubella or German Measles.
• C: Cytomegalovirus, or known as cytomegalovirus or human herpes virus 5.
• H: Herpes simplex virus or herpes simplex virus.

Other acronyms are also similar TORCHES which stands for Toxoplasmosis, Rubella, Cytomegalovirus, Herpes simplex, and Syphilis.

Toxoplasmosis

Cause : The disease is often associated with cats or dogs as the cause. The cause of this disease is the parasite Toxoplasma gondii by name who generally live on mammalian animals such as dogs and cats.

Transmission : These parasites will come out with a dog or cat feces. Through this dirt can eventually descend humans. Another is through the spread of flies, cockroaches or other insects that descend the dirt and stick to foods that have been mature or when the vegetables are not cooked properly can be transmitted to humans. Can also be spread through undercooked meat during processing.

Effect : The fetus is infected with this disease can cause miscarriage or stillbirth. Can also cause abnormalities in babies as adults.

Rubella

Cause : Also known as German measles. A person infected with this disease can be identified by a rash on the body, muscle aches, fever (though not always accompanies this disease infection) and the enlarged lymph nodes.

Transmission : Media transmission through respiratory, saliva, sweat, blood or sexual contact other than rubella patients. So, for pregnant women, should keep his distance when there are friends or relatives who are suffering from rubella or German measles to avoid contagion.

Result : The disease is more dangerous when a woman suffered by the young pregnancy, especially during the first trimester of pregnancy. Things that can be experienced by the baby if the mother is infected babies are born with disabilities or suffering from disorders such as brain damage, blindness, deaf or mute.

Cytomegalovirus (CMV)

Cause : Caused by cytomegalo virus.

Result : If the infection experienced by pregnant women, so the baby at risk of suffering from enlargement of the head, Calcification of the brain, liver enlargement, deaf, or the shape of the foot and hand abnormalities.

Herpes simplex type II

Cause : Herpes is divided into 2 types, while harmful to pregnant women is the type of herpes simplex type II (HSV II). These infections attack the genitals. Sign of a person infected with this disease are white or spots appear on the genitals.

Transmission : transmission is through direct contact or indirectly by another person. Can also be transmitted through sexual contact.

Due : Babies born to infected mothers may suffer from this disease in the skin disorder, skin is blistered.

Preventing TORCH

Given the dangers of TORCH for pregnant women, for you who are planning pregnancy or who are currently pregnant, may consider the following suggestions so that your baby can be born with a good and perfect.

• Eat nutritious foods

When pregnant, you should eat lots of nutritious foods. Besides good for fetal development, adequate nutrition will also make the body healthy and strong. When the body healthy, the body can fight various diseases including TORCH that will not infect the body.

• Perform tests before pregnancy

There are good, your body check before planning a pregnancy. You can check whether there is a virus in the body or the bacteria that can cause infections TORCH. If you are already infected, follow your doctor's advice to treat and delay pregnancy until completely recovered.

• Conduct vaccination

Vaccination aims to prevent the entry of the parasite cause TORCH. Like rubella vaccine can be done before pregnancy. You just can not get pregnant before until 2 months later.

• Eat foods that are cooked

Avoid eating food is not cooked or undercooked. Viral or parasitic causes of TORCH be present in food and will not die if food is not cooked. To prevent that possibility, always consume cooked foods in your daily life.

• Check the contents of terartur

During pregnancy, make sure also that you check the content regularly and regularly. The point is to be done immediately if the action in your body was infected with TORCH. Rapid handling can help prevent the baby's condition does not become worse.

• Keep your body clean

Keep your body hygiene. Basic hygiene procedures, such as washing hands, is very important.

• Avoid contact with disease

A pregnant woman should avoid contact with anyone who suffered from viral infections, such as rubella, also called German measles.

In seeking more information about pregnancy and caring for him before and during pregnancy and by thinking carefully in advance about the various aspects of childbirth, a woman will do as best he could to ensure a safer pregnancy. So, for a pregnant woman, try to always be vigilant against various diseases such as TORCH for your baby is born healthy.

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