Does anyone else suffer from the horrid coldsore?

I've just developed my first one since becoming pregnant and it got me thinking... I had been wanting to look further into a waterbirth at home, but now I remember reading that if you have a coldsore when you go into labour, that they won't allow you to have a natural birth as you could risk infecting the baby (even though the damn thing is on your mouth!!) Is this true??

Does that mean it would be risky for me to plan to have a homebirth...incase I develop a coldsore in the days leading up to labour and have to go in for a C-Section instead?

Argh! I envy all you people who don't suffer from them

I get them! (at one point I even had 8 of them, looked and felt horrible)

Anywaaaay, I read that it's not a problem if you have one at the time of the birth, but after that you have to be careful with your LO (not kissing etc.)
If you have cold sores during your pregnancy it's supposed to be good, because the baby can start making antibodies.

Just to be sure you could ask your MW next time, or I'll ask mine and will let you know

You may be confusing them with the bad herpes that affects the genitals. I can't see why they would prevent you from delivering naturally if the sore is by your lip.

I've had cold sores my entire life, they are the worst thing in existence. Anywho. Just make sure you don't really get too close to baby if you have an outbreak as it is terribly contagious. Don't use towels to dry your face. Pretty much everything should be disposable that comes into contact with your face/hands. Throw that toothbrush out too. Wash your hands constantly.

So sorry that you're living with this burden. I used to suffer from at least 4 outbreaks a year, one for each season. I upped my vitamin usage and started using l-lysine as soon as I felt that tingle along with a topical to reduce inflammation and redness and it reduces the outbreak time to a day, 2 the most.

My biggest fear is passing it on to my LO

Definitely ask your midwife about this no natural birth with a coldsore policy. I highly doubt that is the case. Or at least I hope it's not the case.

Good luck and feel better! If you have no other remedies, an ice cube will relieve the pain, itching, and inflammation.

Thanks! I will definitely ask my midwife. I did think it was a bit odd that a coldsore on your mouth would stop you from having a natural birth.

I try to take L-Lysine too...haven't done this time, is it safe during pregnancy? Plenty of Zorvirax tho...but it didn't work this time and the bugger still came up anyhow.