pregnancy and hep c ----6 MONTHS PREGNANT

I AM 34 YEARS OLD I JUST FOUND OUT I HAVE HEP C VIRAL LOAD BELOW 18 THOUSAND I KNOW I DID HAVE A TRANSFUSION AT BIRTH AND NEVER WAS A DRUG USER
(DIDNT KNOW MY PARENTS)I HAVE 2 CHILDREN I 15/11 I GUESS I HAD IT BACK WHEN I WAS PREGNANT WITH THEM I WAS JUST NEVER CHECKED FOR IT I NEVER BEEN SICK A DAY IN MY LIFE I JUST FOUND OUT THROUGH MY PRIVATE DOCTOR DOING BLOODWORK FOR MY PREGNANCY I HAVE READ EVERTHING IMAGINABLE ABOUT THE DISEASE AND SEE THERES ALOT OF DIFFERENT VIEWS I DONT KNOW IF I SHOULD HAVE A C-SECTION ALTHOUGH BOTH MY KIDS WERE NATURAL I DON'T KNOW IF I SHOULD BREAST FEED I BREASTFED BOTH OF MY KIDS I'VE STAYED UP MANY OF NIGHTS CRYING ABOUT THIS MY HUSBAND WAS VERY SUPPORTIVE WITH THE NEWS AND THINKS I SHOULD GO AHEAD LIKE I DID WITH THE OTHER KIDS BEFORE I KNEW I NEED TO KNOW THE RISK FACTORS I NEED SOME SUPPORT I'M SCARED AND CONFUSED

[cao]

With a low viral load like yours, the odds of transmission to your child are exceedingly low.  It, however, can happpen, as others here can attest.  I had a son two years ago and did not pass the virus along.  The current wisdom is that both vaginal delivery and breastfeeding are okay.  I did both with my son.  I know this is a lot to process at the moment. And I know that when the time comes to test the baby, it will be very stressful.  That said, the odds are in your favor.

[shanda]

THANKYOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR SUPPORT I BEEN IN A DAZE ABOUT ALL OF THIS NOONE KNOWS EXCEPT MY HUSBAND I'VE GONE THROUGH SO MANY THINGS IN MY HEAD ABOUT HOW I COULD OF CONTRACTED IT I KNOW I WAS BORN WITH SOMETHING WRONG WHERE I NEED BLOOD ALSO I BEEN WORKING IN THE FEILD OF DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES FOR 10 YEARS AND I'VE BEEN SCRATCHED,BITTEN, CLEANED UP BLOOD AFTER SIB BEHAVOIRS BUT THE CLIENTS MOSTLY HAD HEP B WHICH I'VE BEEN VACCINATED FOR SO I'VE CHALKED IT UP TO BIRTH I KNOW WHEN I WAS A KID I WAS TOLD SOMETHING ABOUT HEPATITIS BUT IT WAS NOTHING FOR ME TO BE CONCERNED ABOUT(LIKE I HAD JUST BEEN EXPOSED TO IT) MY DOCTOR SAID THAT THEY DONT TEST FOR C THAT'S PROBABLY WHY I NEVER KNEW UNTIL NOW. I PLANNED THIS BABY AND I WANT HER SO BAD AND BREASTFEEDING IS SO IMPORTANT NEITHER OF MY CHILDREN WERE EVER SICK NOR HAD EAR INFECTIONS.I COULD NEVER FORGIVE MYSELF IF ANYTHING HAPPEN TO HER. I'M HOPING THAT ONCE I HAVE HER I CAN JUST TAKE SOMETHING TO MAKE THIS GO AWAY BUT IM NOT SURE IF THERE IS ANYTHING OR BY READING THIS FORUM, IF I'M A CANDIDATE FOR TREATMENT THE FUNNY THING IS THAT THE VIRAL LOAD IS JUST BELOW 18 THOUSAND WHEN I WAS TOLD I FREAKED OUT AND EVERYONE IS SAYING THATS SO LOW BUT DAYUM 18 THOUSAND? I JUST NEED REASSURANCE. I DON'T WANT TO HURT MY UNBORN DAUGHTER AND WE DON'T HAVE ANY BOYS I WAS HOPING TO TRY AGAIN BUT THIS DIAGNOSIS PUT A BIG FOG OVER MY ENTIRE LIFE ONCE AGAIN I THANK YOU GUYS FOR YOUR SUPPORT

[Foreign girl]

I had an elective C-section with my 2d child since I knew I had Hep C. Some studies show that the rate of transmission with C-section is zero.

Good luck

Foreign girl

[cuteus]

hello to you and welcome,
your fears will subside to a manageable level pretty soon, what you are going through is a normal reaction to a most unexpected and surprising event; the diagnosis of hep c.  
I believe I was already infected during my last pregnancy (but I don't know for sure, of course), which was a midwife attended, natural delivery (with pain and all). I did not learn of my infection until my daughter was 15.  I asked for no episiotomy, prepping or fetal monitors, because I did not think they were necessary.  Looking back I am glad I did. since if I was infected, then my blood from episiotomy and the possible knicking of fetal scalp when attaching internal monitor could have meant transmission.   I had a lot of bleeding, hemorraging better describes it, but my daughter is negative for hcv.
  If instead I was infected during blood supplementation for the labor hemorrage,  the above would not  have matter. I breastfed for many years (about 4 or so), through cracked nipples and everything with no negative outcome.
If you choose vaginal delivery, make sure they do not do an episiotomy( I did not need one and she was 8 lbs), they use it as a precaution, mostly, and do not use an internal fetal monitor, nothing that might make the mixing of bloody fluids possible. I also did not have an amnio because of the slight chance of miscarriage (remember I did not know of HCV), I did not want to chance loosing the baby even if the risk was miniscule.  So, try to minimize invasive procedures as much as you can is what I suggest.  
YOu and your baby will be justs fine, the odds are in your favor.

[cao]

I just wanted you to know that you aren't alone.  I often feel as a 30 year old woman of child-bearing age, that I'm very isolated in dealing with HCV.  Like you, my husband has been incredibly supportive, as has my entire family, but I haven't chosen to share the information with very many friends or accquaintances.  It really is a hard thing to go through -- wondering about future kids, wondering about protecting the kids you have, worrying about your own health.  I think going through it mostly on your own adds to the mental burden.  This forum is a wonderful resource & I hope you continue to visit:)

[snook_man]

Just so you know, I was natural birth.
No hostpital, no fetal monitor, no nothing.. Natural hippie mom giving a water birth. I was breast fed till I was nearly 2.
I was also a healthy, 10lb baby. Never got sick in my entire life, till I turned about 15 years old. That is when I started with a constant cold like symptoms. That is also when I was diagnosed with HCV.

I got it from my mom, so though the odds are low, they ARE present.

[holding_on]

The odds of any of your children having contracted Hep C from you are about 5%.  Some studies estimate slightly less or more.  If you have them tested, don't jump to conclusions if they are positive for antibody - most fetuses will acquire antibody from mother, but it doesn't mean presence of virus in baby.  If kids are positive for antibody, test for viral RNA.  My daughter is 20 months, had viral check at one year and is negative (but positive for antibody).  

On the episiotomy issue, if you "tore" during first two deliveries, it is probably better to elect for episiotomy because the local anesthetic will constrict blood vessels and reduce amount of blood your baby is exposed to.  Good luck!