Can babies get herpes through breast milk?

Understanding Herpes Transmission Through Breastfeeding
The question of whether babies can contract herpes through breast milk is a significant concern for new mothers, especially those with a history of herpes simplex virus (HSV) infections. The good news is that herpes is not transmitted through breast milk. This means that breastfeeding itself does not pose a risk of passing the virus to an infant.
How Herpes is Transmitted
Herpes simplex virus can be transmitted from mother to child primarily through direct contact. The most common routes of transmission include:
1. In Utero: This occurs in about 5% of cases, where the virus can infect the fetus during pregnancy.
2. Peripartum Period: This is the most significant risk factor, accounting for approximately 85% of neonatal herpes cases. Transmission can happen during delivery if the baby comes into contact with the virus in the birth canal.
3. Postnatally: This accounts for about 10% of cases, where the infant may be exposed to the virus after birth, often through contact with an infected person.
Breastfeeding and Herpes
While breastfeeding is generally safe for mothers with herpes, there are specific precautions to consider. If a mother has active herpes lesions on her breasts, it is advised to avoid breastfeeding from the affected breast until the lesions have healed. In such cases, expressed milk from the affected breast should also be discarded to prevent any potential risk.
However, if the mother has herpes elsewhere on her body but not on her breasts, breastfeeding remains safe. The virus does not pass into breast milk, making it unlikely for the baby to contract herpes through this method.
Conclusion
In summary, while herpes can pose risks during pregnancy and delivery, breastfeeding itself does not transmit the virus to infants. Mothers with herpes should be aware of their condition and take necessary precautions, particularly if lesions are present on the breast. Consulting healthcare professionals for personalized advice is always recommended to ensure the safety and health of both mother and child.

Can a mother pass herpes to a baby?

The herpes virus can infect the fetus and cause abnormalities. A mother who is infected with herpes may transmit the virus to her newborn during vaginal delivery, especially if she has an active infection at the time of delivery.

Can a nurse catch herpes from a patient?

Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV)
Nurses are at risk for HSV unless they practice careful hand washing and wear gloves on both hands when handling respiratory tract secretions or placing their fingers in patients’ mouths.

Can you spread herpes to breast?

If you have genital herpes, it is possible to spread the infection to any part of your breast, including your nipple and areola. If you have any genital herpes sores on one or both of your breasts: You can keep breastfeeding as long as your baby or pumping equipment does not touch a herpes sore.

Can you pass herpes to baby through breast milk?

The herpes virus can also be spread to your baby if you have a blister caused by herpes on your breast and you feed your baby with the affected breast or expressed breast milk from the affected breast. A baby is most at risk of getting a herpes infection in the first 4 weeks after birth.

Can you breastfeed while taking valacyclovir?

Herpes can be a serious, life-threatening infection for a newborn. Cold sores occur commonly around the time of delivery, so it is important to treat cold sores aggressively to prevent transmission to a newborn baby. Aciclovir cream, aciclovir or valaciclovir tablets are all considered safe while breastfeeding.

Can my baby get herpes from diaper change?

Infants can also become infected with HSV through direct skin-to-skin contact with someone who has an active lesion. For instance: Kissing a child when you have an active lesion. Changing a diaper when there is a lesion on your hand.

What are the odds of passing herpes to your baby?

People who acquire genital herpes before they become pregnant have a very low risk (less than 1%) of transmitting the virus to their babies. This is because their immune system makes antibodies that are passed to the baby through the placenta.

Can you donate breastmilk if you have herpes?

PLEASE DO NOT DONATE IF:
With all other illnesses, we cannot accept milk collected in the 24 hours before the person became ill and until the ill person has been well for 24 hours. Illness includes active herpes, any sore in someone’s mouth (including a cold sore), or thrush in the baby’s mouth.

Can you date someone with herpes and never get it?

Some couples have sexual relationships for years without transmitting herpes just by avoiding sexual contact during outbreaks, using condoms regularly and using suppressive antiviral therapy to reduce outbreaks. Couples deal successfully with herpes all the time. For many, it is a minor inconvenience.

Can you sleep with someone with herpes and not get it?

It is true that in an intimate sexual relationship with a person who has herpes (facial or genital), the risk of contracting herpes will not be zero, but while there is a possibility of contracting herpes this is a possibility for any sexually active person.