can i breast feed to my baby when he ll born? i m hep B positive.

[illsurvive]

hello doctor,
i ve been trying to post this question for a month. today i got space. i m 18 weeks pregnant and 27 yr old woman. i was diagnose with hep B dec 07. n got pregnant in may. i want to know can i breast feed my baby? my viral load is 2234 IU. and no liver damage or no elevated enzymes.
i asked to my ob/gyne but she didnt seem sure for this answer. what % of chances to get this visrus in baby?
please answer. i m too worried abt my unborn baby.this is my first pregnancy.

[illsurvive]

If  i would take Lamivudine then risk will low rite? but not 100 % safe. so still i m confused what should i do? should i breast feed or not?please doctor i m really worried i m crying this time. i dont know where i got this virus. i never had sex with anyone or even kiss. At birth he ll get immune globulin and only  1st dose of vaccine another 2 dose will still reamainig.

[Douglas Dieterich, MD]

Assuming your baby gets vaccinated and gets HBV immune globulin at birth, it should be relatively safe. The level of HBV in breast milk is low and your level is low too. Nothing is 100% but it is a reasonably low risk. If you want to decrease the risk even further you can take Lamivudine for the last trimester and while you are breast feeding.
DTD