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MedHelp Member's Question

Infant Hepatitis C Concerns

by worried grandma, Jul 05, 2007 12:00AM
My son's girlfriend has Hepatitis C.  My grandson was born last June 2006.  Her doctor said it was okay for her to breastfeed and she did.  My grandson just had his first Hepatitis C test and they say he is testing positive for the Hepatitis C antibody.  We are extremely worried.  He is only 22 pounds and does not have an ounce of fat on him.  What is going to happen to him?  There is no cure, is there?  Will he get progressively worse?  Is it possible he contracted it because of the breastfeeding?  Or was it through birth?  Can he lead a normal life?  
Member Comments (36)

by FlGuy, Jul 05, 2007 12:00AM
To: worried
It means that the kids was exposed to the virus.  It does not necessarily mean that he has a chronic infection - that's very important to remember.  To determine if there is a current infection, a subsequent test is needed.  There is a percentage of people 15-25% who fight the infection off on their own with the strength of their immune system.   This is hopefully the case with the little tyke too.   These would be positive for the antibody, but negative on a viral load (hepatitis c pcr) test.  Although it happens, mother to child 'vertical' infection is not real common.  Although I'm not sure, I don't think that breastfeeding was necessarily it either.  Was the child born by C-section?, that might be a possibility too.  There are a very few people around here who were either infected at birth or who have kids who were.  Maybe they will comment too.  I've had hcv for about 34 years and I'm still make quite a bit of noise.  For kids, some doc's don't address hepc until they are a few years old.  Don't blame the mother.

by Tater_ToT, Jul 05, 2007 12:00AM
To: Worried Grandma
Hi,
I could be wrong about this, but it is my understanding that a baby "might" test positive due to the antibodies being passed from the mother to the child.. regardless of weather they are breastfed or not. I think it takes like anywhere from 3 to  24 months for a baby to loose it's maternal antibodies!!!

Meaning... when the child gets a little older it would need to be retested for an actual Viral Load.

There is no evidence that breastfeeding alone passes along HCV... (it is blood to blood)... so generally hepatitis C positive mothers are never advised NOT to breast feed except at times when their nipples may be cracked or bleeding...

I breastfeed both of my children & neither of my children ever contracted it!

Wish I could give you a more definitive answer...but the only thing I can think of is.. ask more about this with the health care provider, & test again later!
:)

by worry06, Jul 05, 2007 12:00AM
To: worried grandma
Hi, I recently tested HCV positive. I breastfeed all my 3 kids, if I've known I would not breastfeed them eventhough the study show that it is very low chance that the virus pass from mother to child. Like Tater mentioned it might pass through the craked niples..   Only my youngest was HCV positive.  My nurse said that she treated 2 other families which also the youngest tested positive. I hope your grand son has no virus.

by Myown, Jul 05, 2007 12:00AM
To: worried grandma/All
http://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=26010

"A few viruses can pass through breast milk. HIV, the virus that causes AIDS, is one of them. Women who are HIV positive should not breastfeed. Also, women with Hepatitis C may be able to transmit the virus through breast milk, but it is not certain. However, bleeding or cracked nipples on the breast of a woman with Hepatitis C puts a breastfeeding infant at higher risk for getting the virus."
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Worried grandma,
Sorry to hear that the baby may be infected. Hopefully the baby will test negative for VL as mentioned by FlGuy.

To everyone else, you know what??
I just don't get it. How can some doctors tell women to take a chance and put their baby at risk (as far as I am concerned) and breast feed. They advise to stop only if nipples are cracked???? Well what if the baby who may have just cut a tooth bites the mother and bites his lip suddenly as he is breastfeeding?. Of course we all know this can happen. This just amazes me!! Where is logic or common sense with some of these doctors.. and unfortunately some people listen to their doctors no matter what. I wish I had that type of confidence in a doctor, maybe I would be better off, but I doubt it. And as far as people saying "studies" show babies don't contract it through breastfeeding,,,,you mean to tell me that there have been actual studies that have put children at risk when prior to the study the doctors didn't know what the outcome would be? Or,,, are doctors just telling women that "in their opinion",
or from what they have seen, babies don't contract HCV from breastfeeding. Either way, "a study" or from what doctors have 'noticed' both answers are wrong. If ONE baby contracted HCV from breastfeeding, that is ONE baby too many and for that reason I believe doctors should tell everyone NOT to breastfeed.

by hippygem, Jul 05, 2007 12:00AM
To: worried grandma
All babies with hep c mothers are born with their mothers hep c antibodies, however these antibodies will disappear within 18 months in 95% of cases.

http://www.hepatitisc.org.au/quickref/documents/Preg-Babies-Children.pdf

by goldyn, Jul 05, 2007 12:00AM
To: worried grandma and worry06
I agree with tator up to 24 months they can still carry moms antibodies, thats what they told me when i went to test my 2 and half yr old when i found out i was positive, they can always take a viral load test to see if he has one..if he dont chances are you check him again in a year  he will be negative..and if not he can live a normal life just have get  more blood test than most kids..and there are some terrific new meds coming out that will raise his cure rate higher..
worry06---Im thinking the baby of the family are more at risk because our viral load gets higher as we have it longer.....

by livindabest, Jul 06, 2007 12:00AM
To: Myown..
   I know you mean well. And I respect your opinion, but,,, (saw that comming I bet) ..     When newer poster asks such a question, I would have handled it as above by others.    First responses  from me is:  A.   HepC is blood borne, not other body fluids.  B.   There are others with first hand expierience that will tell there side.   C.   talk to a good hepitologist if needed   D. Do not blame the mother.      
       People come here for support more  than criticisms.
                                                   Aloha,    R.  

by zazza, Jul 06, 2007 12:00AM
I got hepatitis C in 1981. My 3 children were born between 1984 and 1995. The last one with a C-section. All 3 were breastfed, for a period ranging from 14 months to 21 months. The oldest one bit my nipple once so blood came through the cut. None of them caught hep C. The doctors told me hep C is not contagious through breastfeeding. I would brestfeed again today, it is such a wonderful experience for both the mother and the child.

And yes, I remember being told not to test my youngest for hep C until he was at least 18 months, because before that he would carry my antibodies.

by Myown, Jul 06, 2007 12:00AM
To: livindabest