A HEARTBROKEN mum is warning others of a common mistake made with newborns after losing her daughter to a deadly infection.
Hailey Riches, 25, knew there was something wrong with Violet Constantinou after she refused to feed and had yellow skin.
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She was advised to take Violet to hospital as she “started getting worse”.
At eight days old it was discovered from a series of tests she had contracted neonatal herpes (HSV-1) – a serious infection in newborns caused by the herpes simplex virus (HSV).
Violet was immediately given anti-viral medication, but her condition quickly deteriorated, and she began to experience seizures.
She was consequently taken to Southampton Hospital where she was placed in intensive care.
Doctors noticed the newborn was having acute liver failure and despite being put on highest priority in the UK for a liver transplant she tragically died at one month old while still waiting.
They told mum Hailey and dad Dimitri Constantinou, 30, they would never know where the herpes came from.
Hailey and her fiancé have vowed to spread awareness for people with cold sores, or those prone to the virus, to keep away from newborn babies.
Hailey said: “I do see it online many times people saying ‘but why can’t we kiss a baby?’ when it is not their baby – it frustrates me because of having gone through this situation.
“This is why you have to be slightly protective and be aware. If you have got a cold sore don’t go near a baby because it is deadly and can kill them.
“This is not to scare new mums or pregnant women. It is to say if you are not feeling right in yourself and if the baby is not feeling right then to be persistent and get it checked.”
Hailey added: “I don’t have genital herpes, none of my family or myself had a cold sore outbreak. They said it is most likely from an outsource but they are not sure who.
“Anyone can spread the virus without even knowing. Even if you have got no symptoms you might still pass it on.”
From a normal pregnancy to critical ordeal
Hailey Riches who works as a specialty coordinator for NHS said she had a “normal” pregnancy and gave birth to daughter Violet via an emergency caesarean on March 22, 2023.
Despite the newborn seeming “fine and well”, once the family returned home, mum Hailey noticed that Violet started to feed less, looking fatigued and had a yellow skin.
A health visitor advised Hailey to take her to Worthing Hospital – where she was checked with a jaundice machine.
The newborn was sent home but everything “started to get worse”, explained Hailey.
At eight days old, Violet was still having troubles feeding, so Hailey took her back into hospital, where a nurse discovered she had a high temperature.
At that point mum Hailey was admitted with sepsis.
This led to blood checks and a lumber puncture, which revealed that Violet had neonatal herpes (HSV-1) – a serious infection in newborns caused by the herpes simplex virus (HSV).
It can be contracted before, during, or after birth.
Type 1 (HSV-1) is mostly spread by oral contact through kissing, sharing drinks or utensils, and causes infections in or around the mouth, like cold sores.
Violet was immediately given anti-viral medication, but her condition quickly deteriorated, and she began to experience seizures.
On April 1, she was taken to Southampton Hospital where she was placed in intensive care.
Hailey, of Billingshurst, Sussex, said: “The doctors said that we will be lucky to see her survive the next 24 to 48 hours.
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“She was deteriorating further and then they decided to flew her by helicopter to King’s College Hospital in London because they realised she was having acute liver failure.”
Violet was put on highest priority in the UK for a liver transplant but tragically died on April 21 while still waiting.
Hayley said: “It was absolutely traumatising. The worst time of our family’s life – I don’t think our family has ever gone through such a traumatic time.
“Every day something was happening and she was deteriorating further – it affected her brain, her lungs, she then had a cardiac arrest at one point where we watched her being resuscitated for nine minutes.
“It just got worse and worse and it was time to say goodbye at the end.”
Doctors told mum Hailey and dad Dimitri, who works as a driver for builders merchants, they would never know where the herpes came from.
Anyone can spread the virus without even knowing. Even if you have got no symptoms you might still pass it on
Hailey Riches
Hailey added: “I don’t have genital herpes, none of my family or myself had a cold sore outbreak. They said it is most likely from an outsource but they are not sure who.
“Anyone can spread the virus without even knowing. Even if you have got no symptoms you might still pass it on.”
On August 16, 2024, Hayley and her fiancé welcomed daughter Lily into the world.
But Hailey explained she was “terrified” during the first months of giving birth following her experience with Violet.
She said: “I had consultants telling me the first six weeks are crucial to protect her because they have no immune system.
“I had always said to people no kissing, wash your hands when you come in or if you want to hold her. We were very protective because of the situation we went through.
“I do see it online many times people saying ‘but why can’t we kiss a baby?’ when it is not their baby – it frustrates me because of having gone through the situation.
“This is why you have to be slightly protective and be aware. If you have got a cold sore don’t go near a baby because it is deadly and can kill them.
“This is not to scare new mums or pregnant women. It is to say if you are not feeling right in yourself and if the baby is not feeling right then to be persistent and get it checked.”
Hailey concluded: “Thank you to Southampton General Hospital, the Pediatric Unit and Ronald McDonald charity who accommodated us in Southampton and London during these tragic times.”
Neonatal herpes – the warning signs
Neonatal herpes is a herpes infection in a young baby. The younger the baby, the more vulnerable they are to the harmful effects of infection.
Herpes can be very serious for a young baby, whose immune system will not have fully developed to fight off the virus.
The herpes simplex virus can be passed to a baby through a cold sore if a person has a cold sore and kisses the baby.
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.
You should not kiss a baby if you have a cold sore to reduce the risk of spreading infection.
Warning signs
If you see the following warning signs in your baby call a GP or contact 111 straight away:
- is lethargic or irritable
- is not feeding
- has a high temperature (fever) – find out how to take your baby’s temperature
- has a rash or sores on the skin, eyes and inside the mouth
Call 999 immediately if your baby:
- is lacking in energy (listless)
- is becoming floppy and unresponsive
- is difficult to wake up from sleep
- has breathing difficulties or starts grunting
- breathes rapidly
- has a blue tongue and skin (cyanosis) – if they have brown or black skin this may be easier to see on their lips, tongue and gums, under their nails and around their eyes
How is it treated?
Neonatal herpes is usually treated with antiviral medicines given directly into the baby’s vein (intravenously).
This treatment may be needed for several weeks.
Any related complications, such as fits (seizures), will also need to be treated.
How can it be prevented?
If you’re pregnant and have a history of genital herpes, tell your doctor or midwife.
You may need to take medicine during the last month of pregnancy to prevent an outbreak of vaginal sores during labour.
Delivery by caesarean section is recommended if the genital herpes has occurred for the first time in the last 6 weeks of your pregnancy.
If you develop a cold sore or have any signs of a herpes infection, take these precautions:
- do not kiss any babies
- wash your hands before contact with a baby
- wash your hands before breastfeeding
- cover up any cold sores, lesions or signs of a herpes infection anywhere on your body to avoid passing on the virus
Source: NHS
