... but then you risk the chance of catching it from your spouse and passing it on to your child.
True, nothing is risk free, but sources suggest that the risk of this happening is relatively low. Planned Parenthood (http://www.plannedparenthood.org/sexual-health/std/herpes.htm) says:
"Most women who have herpes don't need to worry. Rarely does a woman with recurrent herpes pass the infection on to her newborn."
Generally, according to the American Academy of Family Physicians (http://familydoctor.org/online/famdocen/home/common/sexinfections/sti/091.html#ArticleParsysMiddleColumn0013), the only time of "big concern" is during birth:
"The baby is usually safe in the uterus. When the baby passes through the birth canal, it may catch herpes. Your doctor may do a cesarean section ("C-section") if you have an outbreak at the time you go into labor, so the baby won't have to go through your birth canal."
However, if the mother isn't experiencing an active outbreak at the time of birth, Herpes.com (http://www.herpes.com/pregnancy.shtml) (citing the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists) lists the standard of care as vaginal delivery.
no subject
True, nothing is risk free, but sources suggest that the risk of this happening is relatively low. Planned Parenthood (http://www.plannedparenthood.org/sexual-health/std/herpes.htm) says:
Generally, according to the American Academy of Family Physicians (http://familydoctor.org/online/famdocen/home/common/sexinfections/sti/091.html#ArticleParsysMiddleColumn0013), the only time of "big concern" is during birth:
However, if the mother isn't experiencing an active outbreak at the time of birth, Herpes.com (http://www.herpes.com/pregnancy.shtml) (citing the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists) lists the standard of care as vaginal delivery.