Pregnancy Possible?

  Greetings all. My wife wants another child. I am hcv-pos, she is not. Is there a remote chance either she or the baby will contract through normal insemination/birthing? She usually gets what she wants but I don't want either to get what I've got. Thanks.

[Bulldoggergal]

I had a baby vaginally (sorry, wanted to be specific) after having HCV for almost 10 years at that point and I and the doctors didn't know at the time I had it.

Baby came out perfect...they have to wait one year (as I remember) to do the test on the baby to see if he/she is HCV positive...maybe not if the mom doesn't have.

Very, very, very slight remote, very slightly remote...almost no chance if any.  If any chance...it would be only if she had the HCV and didn't know it yet....so, I personally think you are safe.

There are so many other things to worry about with pregnancy...don't worry about this one.

[meakea]

Hep C is not considered a sexually transmittable disease -- unless both participants are bleeding at the time.

I gave birth to 3 children while I unknowingly had Hep C.  One was a normal delivery and two were C-sections.  They are all adults now and were tested for Hep C when I discovered I have Hep C last year -- they are all negative, as is my husband and my ex-husband.

Once the child is born, you would have to take the standard precautions to you didn't infect the child with blood to blood contact.  Standard precautions are quite simple.  You can google them (not sharing razors, toothbrushes, pierced ear-rings, etc. and being careful with your blood if you have a cut, etc.).  Of course, these precautions pertain to everyone in your household.

[meakea]

Correction:  "...you would have to take the standard precautions so you don't infect the child with blood to blood contact."

[annieCinMD]

I think it is impossible for a child to it through it's father (via the sex act). It's minimally possible for the child to get it from an infected mother. I have a daughter, and she was born prior to my DX. She's negative. It's only found in blood, not sexual fluid like HIV. Meakea gave good advice about standard precautions. That is all you have to ensure the child stays  free of HCV.  

[Reisingwood]

  Thanks. I was 99% sure we were safe but had to ask. I do not have a doctor yet ( denied medicare, appealing, have appt. at clinic next wk.)and would not trust their answer given the amount of ignorance I've already encountered in that field. This site and others have been my greatest resource for educating myself on my condition.
  We do take all precautions for blood/blood contact in the home. My wife is an RN and one of her daughters is type 1 diabetic ( 7yrs. old) and I administer her insulin daily. We are verry careful.
  

[IMstacie]

I take it that you are not on treatment.  No pregnancy while on treatment.