hepatitis c?

Question

A friend of mine just found out she has hepatitis c and she's pregnant. I was wondering if anyone knows the affects it will have on the baby? I really want to know everything i can about this so that i can be there for her and understand what shes going through.

Answer 1

Since I only knew of a guy who had hepatitis c, I felt I could only give you actual sites to get factual infor.

Please check out these medical sites.

http://www.perinatology.com/exposures/Infection/HepatitisC.htm

http://www.hepcbc.ca/pregnancy.htm

http://www.engenderhealth.com/wh/inf/dhepc.html

http://www.americanpregnancy.org/womenshealth/hepatitisc.htm

GOD bless us one and all, always.

Answer 2

There are several articles on the web that may help you. Just do a web search for "hepatitis c, pregnancy>" I have listed one of them below.

Answer 3

the risk of the baby contracting hcv is very low and if delivered by c-section, almost non exsistant. not sure why, but those are facts. i believe sites offer different percentages, but it's around .03% and .06% of a chance to infect the newborn.

i have two boys who are 13 and 16 and i had hcv many years prior to their being born and neither have hcv.

hcv is only transmittalbe by blood. hcv corpuscles found in semen, vaginal fluid, tears and saliva are not transmittable.
good luck.

Answer 4

The chances of perinatal or vertical transmission as it is called are less than 8%. Most people I know with hep c (and I know many) have not transmitted it to their children. I have 2 children and neither has hep c. You are a good friend to be so understanding for your friend. I would suggest getting in touch with a good local support group to educate yourself, or maybe go online with a good website such as hcvadvocate.org . Best wishes to you and your friend (and her baby!).

Answer 5

The doctor should know this, then there's no problem. Don't worry.