Hepatitis C during pregnancy can be transmitted to the baby at the time of normal delivery, but it is very rare for this to happen, however, ideally for women who claim to become pregnant to talk to their doctor for the necessary tests.in due course to promote a safe pregnancy.
In addition, your doctor may ask the pregnant woman to be more careful with the diet to try to strengthen her immune system so that the viral load in the blood decreases and the risk of transmission to the baby is even lower.to achieve this goal.
- Prenatal care should begin approximately 6 months before the woman becomes pregnant and should be performed by a doctor experienced in monitoring pregnant women with hepatitis C and other infectious diseases.
- Your doctor should evaluate your medical history.
- Medical and obstetric history.
- And you should perform a full physical exam.
- To determine the stage and stage of the disease or to understand if there are signs and symptoms of liver failure.
Your doctor should also advise your doctor not to take medicines that are toxic to the liver, even if they are natural, advise the woman on weight management and not share toothbrushes, razors or other hygiene products that may contain blood and report the risk of sexual transmission, even if it is low.
Women infected with hepatitis C virus should also be vaccinated against hepatitis A and B and should stop interferon and ribavirin treatment at least 6 months before attempting to become pregnant due to ribavirin teratogenicity.Women with chronic hepatitis C usually have a smooth pregnancy, as long as the liver disease is stable and has not progressed to cirrhosis.
In addition to the usual pregnancy assessment, some specific tests are performed, such as the measurement of transaminases, albumin, bilirubin, coagulation study, B antihepatitis antibodies, total antihepatitis A antibodies and PCR for hepatitis B virus RNA.During pregnancy, liver function tests should be performed quarterly.
There is no safe treatment for hepatitis C virus infection during pregnancy.Treatment with medicines such as interferon and ribavirin cannot be done during pregnancy or within 6 months of pregnancy.
Test results are usually negative in the first few months of life due to antibodies the baby received from the mother, and therefore between 15 and 24 months of life, the pediatrician may order tests to check if the baby has been infected.levels are higher in the first 2 years of life and decrease over time, until they can rise again between the ages of 20 and 30.
Babies infected with hepatitis C virus typically have no symptoms and have normal development, but have an increased risk of liver complications in adulthood and should therefore undergo regular blood tests to evaluate liver function and prevent lifetime alcohol intake.
There is no contraindication for breastfeeding, except in cases of HIV CO-infection, however, if the nipples are cracked and blood released, precautions should be taken because in these cases there is a risk of contamination, so the integrity of the nipples should be promoted.Refer to tips to ensure your baby’s grip and avoid cracked nipples.