HCV & Pregnancy

If a woman is cured of HCV, can being pregnant pass any of the virus to the baby?

[Marcia2202]

No... you cannot infect someone with something you don't have!

[newleaf09]

You keep the antibodies the rest of your life but the antibodies only.  There is no virus in the blood to pass to the baby.

[JennyPenny]

But, the baby will be born with your antibodies and it will take between 12 and 18 months for the baby to clear the antibodies. He/she will not have the actual infection.

[rucafox]

thats good to know

[Marcia2202]

Interesting, I didn't know that.

I thought the baby will only be born with antibodies if the mother has HCV and has infected the baby. Then the baby might clear or not clear...

I didn't know that one could actually clear the antibodies.

One of my twin girls has antibodies, but none of my other 4 children do.

[Marcia2202]

I forgot to add. I had my last child over 18 years ago. My eldest is 25. I did not know that I had hep c at the time, I only found out in 2008.

So I don't have the experience of testing my babies.

Could you please explain to me how it works.

[PrincessMyss]

Its a simple blood test, Just go to your doctor and say you would like to test your children for Hep C.

[JennyPenny]

Actually, it is really odd. If pregnant moms have SVR, the babies will be born with antibodies and will clear them by 12 months. If the moms have detected virus, the babies will take longer to clear those antibodies (up to 18 months). For the life of me I can't figure out why and never heard anyone try to explain it. But, just like any of the other passive antibodies a mom passes on to her unborn child, like measles and other viral infections, it is only the antibody, not the virus that is passed, except in 4% of the babies who are unlucky enough to be actually infected.

When was the twins last antibody check? Is he or she old enough to have cleared the anutibodies? Or still a little one?

[Marcia2202]

Thanks, now I understand. It does make sense. I guess if one would test newborn babies for all kinds of antibodies they would equally test positive on them. And then they get all kinds of goodies from the colostrum too.

My twins are almost 21 now. The older one has antibodies. She had two PCR's done after I was dxed. She was negative on both, but of course will never get rid of the antibodies. She must have been infected during birth and cleared it herself. (Sorry to be so graphic, but there was a lot of blood when they were born) Like most of us, I didn't know I had it then.
We're so lucky that all five kids are virus free. As said, the eldest is 25 and the youngest is 18.

[JennyPenny]

Wow. How lucky are you (and she). I've never heard of a child clearing on her own when she got it vertically from her mom. But I don't see why that wouldn't happen. Obviously it did for your child. I am really glad to hear that. It's so nice to hear good news around this crummy virus.