Can c-section give you a cold sore?

[CathyS]

I had my first ever cold sore on my mouth when I fell pregnant with this baby. I felt no tingle beforehand..nothing.

When I had my last baby (Laura), I was in the same room as a woman who'd also just had a c-section. She told me that she couldn't kiss her baby because of a cold sore outbreak because of the c-section (she said the drs/nurses or someone told her it can cause cold sores). Is this true??

I guess your body would be run down and a mess after a c-section. So I am wondering if this has happened to anyone before? It would be sad not to be able to kiss your baby.

[briggsy's girl]

cold sores often hit when you're run down or stressed - whether it's emotional or physical - i'd say that yeah, it's highly possible a c-section would leave you in a situation where you could pick up a cold sore

[Sair]

I would think that you would have had to have direct contact with the virus first to get a cold sore. I got mine from my mother or at school and I used to get 2 or 3 a year, I just had my first one in 3 years last week and it's nearly gone now.

Use ice cubes to keep it from getting any bigger, when you are not pregnant you can get a cold sore tablet from the health food store in a red jar, can't think of the name of the company but it is called cold sore relief or just pick up Lysine which is the ingredient in the tablet that reduces the severity of cold sores, safe while b/fing but no studies while pregnant to determine safety as far as I know.

Cold sores blow

[Arimeh]

I would say that if you had a traumatic birth - any way either c-section or VB - and were prone to getting cold sores, then you probably would get one.

My mum gets them whenever she is stressed or emotionally upset - but I'm not prone to them so I don't get them - and I've had 2 c-sections.

[Mother Goose]

I agree that it would have had more to do with stress and trauma than the actual mode of birth.

FWIW, I did have one after the birth of DD. 8hrs labour followed by emergency C-Sect.

[Indadhanu]

I didn't get a cold sore after my c/s (42hours then a c/s) so it'd also have to be if you are prone to them. I am, but only when its windy (my lips get dry) or if I bump/bite my lip so I guess its pretty individual.

[CathyS]

Like I said, I never suffered any cold sores before. I had even begun exercising a month before and lost a bit of weight and then I fell pregnant by surprise, and got really sick....first cold sore, sinusitis, conjunctivitous (got this from my girls). My immunity went down as my body was protecting the baby I guess. I never got sick like this before when I fell pregnant. I just came off the pill too. Never had a proper period.

I get dry lips a LOT and often have to put vaseline on them EVERY NIGHT. The one night I didn't put vaseline on them, I got a cold sore! Maybe I just need to keep them moisterised a lot?

I just hope I don't get one when bub is born.

[mummato1]

I just came across this thread, I just had my first bub by c-sec on 07/07 and I ended up with about 6 of the buggers all along my bottom lip!!!

But saying that, I am prone to coldsores.. so it didnt surprise me. My body was under a lot of stress, I was tired and dehydrated and very dry lips.

The worst part was not only that I couldnt kiss bub, but also that the hospy wanted me to wear a mask when I fed or held, so basically most of the time!

[blayne]

i got cold sores after both my c sections, the first i woke up with one the second it came up 2 days later,

i dont know how or why they come up but yeah they suck!!!

[CathyS]

Thanks for your replies!

Well I managed to have bubs naturally on may 31. And no cold sores since...though I ended up with a haemorroid lol.

[Visitor8]

hehe glad to hear and congratulations (on bub not the roid )! I've never had a cold sore before so wouldn't have been any help lol