When normal vaginal birth poses a risk of infecting the child with an STD such as genital herpes, the birth is

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When a normal vaginal birth poses a risk of infecting the child with an STD such as genital herpes, a cesarean delivery is recommended to minimize infection risk. This is because during a vaginal birth, the child is exposed to the mother's genital secretions which may contain the virus, while a cesarean delivery minimizes this exposure. Massive fetal doses of analgesics are not necessary in this case, and delaying the birth indefinitely is not a viable option as it could pose a risk to the health of the mother and child. Home birth may not be the best option for this situation as medical assistance may be necessary to minimize the risk of infection to the child.

When Normal Vaginal Birth Poses a Risk of Infecting the Child