How Does Herpes Affect a Baby?
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The Effect of Herpes on a Baby
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If you contract herpes during your pregnancy but had never had the disease before, and you are close to delivering your baby, he is at a high risk (30 to 60 percent) of picking up your infection from you, especially if you are experiencing an outbreak at the time of delivery. Because you have never had herpes before, your body has not had the time to develop the antibodies you would normally pass on to your baby. Accordingly, his resistance to the virus is nonexistent. But if you had herpes before you became pregnant, your body has had the time to build a natural immunity which you would have passed to your baby.
If you experience a severe first outbreak upon initial infection during your first trimester of pregnancy (up to 12 weeks), the outbreak can lead to a miscarriage. You can potentially transmit the herpes virus through the placenta if you come down with your first ever (primary) outbreak at any time during your pregnancy. The chance of this happening is approximately five percent.
If you have never been infected with genital herpes before, you run a 50-percent risk of transmitting the virus to your baby.
Baby's Symptoms
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If you have passed your herpes infection on to your baby during childbirth, you should look for the following symptoms: the baby loses her appetite, is running a fever, has become lethargic, has blisters on her body and/or is irritable. Do not wait to see if she begins to feel better. Schedule an immediate appointment with her pediatrician for treatment.
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Risks to the Baby
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Your baby could be at risk of developing "neonatal herpes," which is a potentially fatal infection. This can happen if you contract herpes for the first time ever at any time during your pregnancy. The virus can cross the placental barrier and infect your baby before he is born. If you acquire herpes late in your pregnancy (before you and the baby have the chance to build up any immunity), you are at the highest risk for this condition developing.
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