Shout out for all mothers

[makimak]

I found out that I had Hep B when I was pregnant last year. I have been ever so worried about the implication this could have on my baby's life and is worried sick that there may be a chance that she could have Hep B. When I was pregnant my viral load was very high, nearly 8 log. My specialist advised that it may be beneficial to go on treatment, the cut off point for treatment in UK was 8 log. However, my baby was premature, hence, I didn't get the chance to start treatment. She had the immunogobulin and 3 vaccine shot so far. She just need to have a booster at month 12 and get tested for Hep B. Has any mother out there been through similar situation who could share their story and offer me some support? I was told as my viral load was high during labour (natural birth), the chance of my baby being infected with the virus is higher and I have been worried sick. I'm just wondering whether any of you have had high viral load (and no treatment like me) had any success story regarding your baby's health?

On the other hand, my viral load after giving birth has come right down. The last blood test shows my viral load being at only 74. The specialist reckons the pregnancy affected my immune system which triggered the high viral load. I've also had a fibroscan which came back fine. So good news for me but I'm not happy because not a day go by without me worrying about my baby. She's due to get tested in a few months time and I'm getting more and more nervous.

So if any mothers out there can share your story with me, that'll be really helpful.   .

[makimak]

Hi all,

Just wanted to say thank you so much for the support and for sharing your stories. My baby has completed her blood test and it came back fine.

[anmocchau]

To makimak

No I did not go for treatment because my gynop was against it. And I did not do any test from month 7 onward. So I did not really know my hepb situation when I went in labor. My water broke and my son was 1 week
early.

My son received HBIG and vaccine within an hour from birth so I hope he will be hepb free. He is only about 4.5 months now so I need to wait a long time before I can het him for a booster and then tested.

Re. Your post partum hepb condition, I guess after delivery your immune system goes back to normal (not suppressed any more) so it can fight the virus resulting a decrease in viral load. I got my viral load decrease also after delivery. Hbeag went from + to -.

I got a really high fever 38-40 degree C about a month after giving birth. I wonder if it was when I had seroconversion from hbeag pos to hbeag neg.

It is equally important that mother should be followed up after giving birth to monitor hepb condition. Remember only when you are well that you can look after your precious little one. I wish you and other hepb mothers good luck. Try to live positively. It helps our immune system. Keep us posted and keep sharing.

[makimak]

Just remembered something.....I was told that a baby is most at risk of picking up the infection at time of delivery as they are exposed to their mother's blood. My water didn't break during delivery, the midwife bursted it for me last minute just before my baby arrives. Does this mean my baby spent less time exposed to the virus or does that not matter?

[makimak]

Thanks again all for sharing your stories.

anmocchau - I guess our situation is similar beside the fact that you had treatment which probably means your viral load was lower when you went into labour. I didn't get to have any treatment and though I'm trying my hardest not to worry, I'm just so upset about it.

My little girl will be having her booster soon and she'll be getting herself tested. I will update you all with the results when I know but thanks again for your support.

[anmocchau]

Just a short one. My virus load went down to log 3, hbeag turned negative in a test after I gave birth for 2 months. My ATL also went down well within the range.

[anmocchau]

I share your feeling. I myself a carrier. When I was 4 months pregnant, I was worried myself to death that I would give the virus to my son. My viral load was 7 log with elevated ATL, hbeag positive (was neg before I got pregnant). I came to a hepatologist for advice. She put me on Lamivudine which I was very reluctant to take (virus go mutant). I then consult my gyn-op, he said I should not take the medicine. So I follow my gyn-op advice. Of course it did not make me less worried...to the point that I decided to ignore it. I did not do any test with regard to hep b. Then I delivered my son by c-section. He received hepabig and vaccine shot at birth, and 2 more shots at month 1 and 2. He is scheduled to have the last shot at month 12 then a test 1 month after the last shot. He is now only 3 months and of course it is still unclear if he is pos or not. The only thing I can do now is to pray and keep my fingers cross. Being a mother is hard. Being a mother loaded with worries of giving the virus to the little one is even harder. I have decided worrying does not change any thing so I just hope for the best and get on with life.

[makimak]

Thanks everyone whose responded so far, i am still worried but feel better now

[Izzy79]

upps sorry! .....So try to enjoy the wonderful time with your baby!

I wish you and your family all the best!

[Izzy79]

I also learned about my HBV at the end of my pregnancy. It was in 34 week. I didn't make any tests,because my gyn didn't told me what do i have to do. At this Time i didn'know anything abot hbv.So i can not tell you anything about my viral load at  this Time. It was 2009 and my first hbv dna was made 2010 in september. It was 320 000 kop/ml, so i can immagine that i have had a moderate or high viral load at time of delivery. But it's only a speculation! my daughter was vaccinated a few hours After birth+immunoglobulin. She is 3 y.o.now and she is hbsag neg.
I'm hbeag negative. It is important to know if you are hbeag neg or poz. Mothers who are hbeag poz are more likely to give the infektion to their Babies. But your Baby is vaccinated and the % of vaccine non responders is very small. I know how you are feeling but try to enjoy

[calmama]

'She had the immunogobulin and 3 vaccine shot so far.'

If she is at least 8-9 months old, she can probably get tested for hbv, if you are really worried and want to know.  I don't know if the guidelines are different for babies born to mothers with high viral load in UK, but I think in US all babies born to hbv+ mothers are vaccinated at 0, 1, 6 months and tested at 9 months.  Booster shots are to boost the production of more surface antibodies, but you should be able to know whether she is surface antigen positive or not at 9 months.

I did not have high viral load when I was pregnant with my 2 kids, but I understand your worry.  

[lila58]

I got pregnant w my daughter 22 years ago ,while in the time frame I could still,maybe ,clear the virus.It was a long 24h labor,natural delivery.She got the shots,but I was so worried.Two years later I had my son with c section,they are both hepb free.Do not worry,she'll be fine.That time they didn't know too much about hepb,but luckily they had the vaccine.

[jejo913]

dnt worry,in 2010 durbg pregnancy i came to know that  i m hepa b postiv, i delverd a baby girl with C secsion,now  she is  fine and 2 years old.she vaccinatd at time of birth and after 2 more time,my DNA   was negtve ,but after delivery my ALT and AST was very high now its normal after 2 years.i dnt know why ALT AND AST  was very high after delivry?? my daughter s perfect and healty   hope yr baby too........

[stef2011]

no need to worry, hbv is not cytopatik, it means it makes no damage to us it is our own immune system to make the damage, so babies have no damage at all from the virus anyway, cures are also close to get on the market so even  if the vaccine will fail there is no danger to our health.the only thing that does matter is to monitor our liver by fribroscan and know we have hbv so whnever needed we can stop it

anyway the rate of vaccine failure is very low anyway