Cold sore breast feeding HELP

[babesprincess03]

So I woke up with a cold sore I'm putting breast milk on it as well as tripple antibacterial ointment... What I'm worried about is Gabriel Jesus, Iv kissed him he's 3 weeks today I was online reading wether I can feed him or not and I came across some pretty scary stories so now I'm all paranoid 4 hrs away from home and with no dr here... Any input would be awesome

[LoveOfWisdom]

Fine to feed.  It's not an infection so antibacterial ointment will not help.  I used to get them a lot as a kid and use oil of oregano (can find at any health food stores in the vit. area) and mixed it a little with olive oil.  Will be gone in 24 hrs.

[Ifyasaiso]

My midwife recommended mouthcovers, so that I remember not to kiss the baby. There are anti viral patches you can put on the sores to cover them. Make sure to wash your hands and dry them very well before feeding (actually, the drying is the most important), and of course after putting on salve, patches or touching your face. I use disposable towels, or a cloth towel only once.

I am of the paranoid kind, so I also put on latex disposable gloves before touching any infant under three months, when I have a cold sore. After that I relax sligtly more, though I try to stick to the mouth covers, patches and no face touching or kissing anyone (also not DH) policy. So far, I haven't spread it.

At three weeks, if you transmit the herpes virus, there is a small chance the infection may spread to the baby's brain. If you are breastfeeding, the chances are very slim, though. Be careful and monitor for fever. Do not wait to call a doctor for advice when your child shows a fever.

[LoveOfWisdom]

You are way over paranoid.  There is no need for all of those precautions.  Washing with soap and water is just fine.

Quoting Ifyasaiso:

My midwife recommended mouthcovers, so that I remember not to kiss the baby. There are anti viral patches you can put on the sores to cover them. Make sure to wash your hands and dry them very well before feeding (actually, the drying is the most important), and of course after putting on salve, patches or touching your face. I use disposable towels, or a cloth towel only once.

I am of the paranoid kind, so I also put on latex disposable gloves before touching any infant under three months, when I have a cold sore. After that I relax sligtly more, though I try to stick to the mouth covers, patches and no face touching or kissing anyone (also not DH) policy. So far, I haven't spread it.

At three weeks, if you transmit the herpes virus, there is a small chance the infection may spread to the baby's brain. If you are breastfeeding, the chances are very slim, though. Be careful and monitor for fever. Do not wait to call a doctor for advice when your child shows a fever.

[Gabriela108]

Quoting LoveOfWisdom:

Fine to feed.  It's not an infection so antibacterial ointment will not help.  I used to get them a lot as a kid and use oil of oregano (can find at any health food stores in the vit. area) and mixed it a little with olive oil.  Will be gone in 24 hrs.

Definitely continue feeding!  It's the best thing for him!  Lysene is the best thing for a cold sore.

[Ifyasaiso]

Never said I wasn't paranoid. And I never would want anyone to stop breastfeeding for something like this.

For me personally, and maybe no-one else, it beats the guilt I'd have to live with after the one-in-a-million chance of transfer and death of my baby. (Besides I suffered through a hell of a pregnancy, so this child better reaches school age. For my own mental health.) The gloves are for babies with weak immune system only, the covers I feel I should wear since I mostly handle babies for work. (Feel the liability?) And so I give my own the same protection.

I got this paranoid after a child of three months at the day care center where I used to work died after grandma gave it herpes. It developed into encephalitis, doctors were powerless.