pregnant with HCV & more

[grandmaR]

daughter, 27 yrs of age, borned with one kidney, bi-uterus and one of her two breast never grew, diagnosed with Von Willibran's disease and about 5 yrs ago affected with HCV via IV drug abuse.  at age of 8, diagnosed with the common miagrane with daily reacurrent headaches.  had surgery to correct her uterus when she was 20.  doc said "no reason she can't have babies."  7 yrs later, we confirmed yesterday that she is 3 wks pregnant.  she says that God has sent her this baby so that any and all drug abuse will now stop (IV abuse long gone, current abuse has been lortabs, somas, and xanaxs.  Her kidney has developed a very small cyst over the yrs.  I need big help.  where should I start first? please, please.  God Bless.
GrandmaR

[meki]

Oh wow - lady - just hang in there!

Thanks for checking back in.

And keep us updated with any new stuff or questions - ok?

Meki

[grandmaR]

thanks to all of you that took the time to ease my mind.  my daughter is going thru the medicaid program (which takes a little time to see a doc) so i'm been stressing a lot.  I buried my Dad in Jan of this yr and my Mon Aug 3.  I haven't gotten to see my son's daughter since Feb. 10 of this yr.  And as you all know, now my daughter is pregnant and i just feel lost.  God Bless all of you and please pray everything goes well.  All of you are in my prayers.  
GrandmaR

[meki]

Stand up - sit down - left - right... Sheesh --- it's right like directing traffic sometimes.

LMAO!

Meki

[NYgirl]

I had two children before I knew I was infected with HCV and both are healthy and negative.

I will pray very hard that your daughter gets the same results. I breast fed both too.

For me I decided when I found out (in my big bargain with God) that if the kids were negative I would immediately treat and treat as aggressively as I could. So........that's why I did it.  I couldn't go back on that one!

[Bill1954]

For the life of me, I can’t understand why they coined the term Vertical Transmission. I mean, if it’s transmitted at conception, wouldn’t Horizontal Transmission be more appropriate (although the for chandelier crowd, maybe Vertical fits well)? Hmmm… further studies are needed…

Bill

[meki]

Mes -my doc advised me to get my daughter checked (at 10 years old) and said there was a 30% chance of "vertical transmission"

But I think Bill got the right info.

5% is MUCH better than 30% ---- so that's rock on with me!

Meki

[Bill1954]

The medical term for a HCV positive mother infecting her baby with HCV is known as “vertical transmission”. The data seems to be all over the board on this subject; some studies don’t attempt to sort out HIV/HCV co infection, others determine HCV positivity via antibody status rather than viremic (PCR) status, and the list goes on…

The following is an excerpt from HCV advocate:

http://www.hcvadvocate.org/hcsp/articles/HERRINE.html

“…The largest study to date is a report published in the journal Hepatology in 2000 by Conte et al., in which 15,250 consecutive pregnant women were screened for HCV, 370 of whom had evidence of viral infection. Overall vertical transmission rate was 5.1% and was seen exclusively in mothers who had detectable viremia by PCR. Genotype, viral load, vaginal vs. cesarean delivery, breast feeding or HIV co-infection were not associated with transmission. (6)…”

Along with the following recommendations:

“Based upon these and other studies, the following guidelines and recommendations can be made:
• HCV(+) mothers can transmit infection to their babies. The most accurate estimate of such an event is in the range of 5%. This risk is probably increased in the setting of HCV-HIV co-infection. It is not clear that high viral load increases the risk of transmission.
• The presence of HCV infection does not appear to result in a higher risk pregnancy or a higher incidence of poor obstetric outcome.
• Testing for the presence of HCV in infants born to HCV(+) mothers should not begin until at least one year following delivery. The natural history of HCV infected infants is poorly understood at this time.
• Prophylactic caesarian section is not recommended in HCV infected mothers. The role of cesarean delivery in HCV/HIV co-infected mothers remains controversial.
• Breast-feeding presents a low or negligible risk of transmission, and, given the well-documented benefits, should be routinely recommended.”

There are a whole slew of studies to draw from out there; pick what you want to say, then find a study to support your view ;o).

Take care,

Bill

[Bill1954]

The medical term for a HCV positive mother infecting her baby with HCV is known as “vertical transmission”. The data seems to be all over the board on this subject; some studies don’t attempt to sort out HIV/HCV co infection, others determine HCV positivity via antibody status rather than viremic (PCR) status, and the list goes on…

The following is an excerpt from HCV advocate:

http://www.hcvadvocate.org/hcsp/articles/HERRINE.html

“…The largest study to date is a report published in the journal Hepatology in 2000 by Conte et al., in which 15,250 consecutive pregnant women were screened for HCV, 370 of whom had evidence of viral infection. Overall vertical transmission rate was 5.1% and was seen exclusively in mothers who had detectable viremia by PCR. Genotype, viral load, vaginal vs. cesarean delivery, breast feeding or HIV co-infection were not associated with transmission. (6)…”

Along with the following recommendations:

“Based upon these and other studies, the following guidelines and recommendations can be made:
• HCV(+) mothers can transmit infection to their babies. The most accurate estimate of such an event is in the range of 5%. This risk is probably increased in the setting of HCV-HIV co-infection. It is not clear that high viral load increases the risk of transmission.
• The presence of HCV infection does not appear to result in a higher risk pregnancy or a higher incidence of poor obstetric outcome.
• Testing for the presence of HCV in infants born to HCV(+) mothers should not begin until at least one year following delivery. The natural history of HCV infected infants is poorly understood at this time.
• Prophylactic caesarian section is not recommended in HCV infected mothers. The role of cesarean delivery in HCV/HIV co-infected mothers remains controversial.
• Breast-feeding presents a low or negligible risk of transmission, and, given the well-documented benefits, should be routinely recommended.”

There are a whole slew of studies to draw from out there; pick what you want to say, then find a study to support your view ;o).

Take care,

Bill

[mes326]

you say there is a 30%  chance that babies can get hcv from their mothers but i thought it was much lower like 5%?

[goldenrule]

pertaining to the drug use and becoming pregnant, I can relate. Same scenerio with me. For me, I did not need 12 steps, I only needed one, GOD!!! I have been clean and sober for 21/2 years now.
God does send us blessings through our children that give us stength we never knew existed!!! My son has not contracted HCV either. He was not even exposed to it. Thank You Jesus!!!!

[meki]

Von Williebrand's disease is a bleeding disorder - like Haemophilia.

Wow - ok... Well the bi-uterus. The breast part --- uhm well - I don't need to know that.

But infected w/ HCV... and just stopping drug usage.

Treatment for HCV is something she can do later- the Von Williebrand's Disorder may cause some problems...

But the drug usage has to go NOW.

No alcohol - no drugs - live healthy - eat healthy.

I gave birth to my daughter with HCV --- she does not have it... There is only a 30% crossover rate.

Plus they will take extra precautions - and the child may spontaneously clear the HCV.

HCV is a very slow moving disease --- keep in contact with her doctors... Track her damage --- but now that she's pregnant - not much you can do but keep her healthy.

Talk to her docs... Also - now would be a good time to get her into a rehab --- to help her learn healthy living habits.

Good luck.

Meki