Pregnancy And Hep C

[Momma_Of_2]

A friend of mine was diagnosed with Hep C a 7 years ago. she has totally ignored the problem and has never seen a doctr for it she is 29 yrs old now and she just found out she was pregnant. Im concerned about the baby. what are the chances of this be transfered to the baby? Is there anyway to prevent the baby from getting it if so? and also for her and the baby if the baby gets it what how long are the chances of survival if there not getting treatment? Is there a cure for hep c or is it similar to cancer tou can be in remission but can return at any given time? Please Help

[sunshines76]

here's some more info from http://www.perinatology.com/exposures/Infection/HepatitisC.htm

"Pregnant patients with hepatitis C should be advised to


Obtain vaccination against hepatitis viruses A and B as indicated.
Abstain form alcohol use.
Avoid hepatotoxic drugs such as acetaminophen (Tylenol) that may worsen liver damage.
Inform the infant’s pediatrician of the mother’s hepatitis C status.
Not donate blood, body organs, other tissue, or semen.
Not share any personal items that may have blood on them (e.g., toothbrushes and razors).
Discuss the low but present risk for transmission with their partner and discuss the need for counseling and testing. However, HCV-positive persons with one long-term, steady sex partner do not need to change their sexual practices. [1]

Liver enzymes and PCR should be obtained at the beginning of pregnancy, and as needed thereafter [16]

The following recommendations from The Society of Obstetricians and Gynecologists of Canada may be helpful in counseling women considering amniocentesis.

SOGC Recommendations [17]


“Amniocentesis in women infected with hepatitis C does not appear to significantly increase the risk of vertical transmission, but women should be counseled that very few studies have properly addressed this possibility.
In HIV-positive women all noninvasive screening tools should be used prior to considering amniocentesis.
For women infected with hepatitis B, hepatitis C, or HIV, the addition of noninvasive methods of prenatal risk screening, such as nuchal translucency, triple screening, and anatomic ultrasound, may help in reducing the age-related risk to a level below the threshold for genetic amniocentesis.
For those women infected with hepatitis B, hepatitis C, or HIV who insist on amniocentesis, every effort should be made to avoid inserting the needle through the placenta. “

Delivery and Postpartum
The risk of vertical transmission of HCV appears to be related to the level of viremia in the pregnant mother and not to the route of delivery. The virus does not appear to be transmitted when a woman's titer is < 10^6/mL or is negative [18-20]. Although Tejari et al [21] and Conte et al [22] did not find cesarean section to be protective against transmission of HCV to the neonate Gibb et al have found the HCV maternal to child (MTC) transmission rate to be reduced in patient delivered by elective cesarean[23]. The latter study has yet to be confirmed. Elective cesarean to reduce MCT transmission of HCV is not presently recommended by the Centers for Disease Control, American Academy of Pediatrics or the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG)[1,7,24]. At delivery staff and the baby’s pediatrician should be notified of the mother’s hepatitis C carrier state.
Breastfeeding does not appreciably increase the risk of transmitting HCV to a neonate"

[sunshines76]

Your friend's baby should be absolutely fine. Both of mine are. However, my ob-gyn recommended c-section to minimize the chance of transmission. After delivery I was even allowed to breastfeed. We tested our twins at 16 months and they didn't have hep c antibodies.

[Bill1954]

Hi there,

Thanks for taking the time to ask about this. There is roughly a 5% chance that your friend will pass this on to her child; possibly more if she’s coinfected with both HIV and Hep C (HCV).

Much of Hep C infection is now not only manageable, but also curable with medication; and we expect that percentage to increase with time.

HCV should not be a reason to terminate pregnancy, if that’s what you’re suggesting; she can have her child, and if positive for virus, then the disease can be managed.

Here are some articles to review if you like:

http://janis7hepc.com/Modes%20of%20Transmission.htm#moth

Best to you and your friend—

Bill