Hepatitis C and pregnancy

Infection with viral hepatitis C occurs most often through the blood. Previously, blood donors were not examined forvirus, so the risk of infection was very high. At the moment, this method of infection is not relevant, because this virus is examined by absolutely all donors. Most often, infection occurs in various salons, where piercings and tattoos are done. This is due to the fact that very often tools do not disinfect properly or use old needles. It happens that when you visit a dentist or manicure rooms, you can also get a hepatitis C virus. Hepatitis C is also sexually transmitted. Let the risk of infection in this case is very small (only 3-5%), but it exists.

It should be remembered that the hepatitis C virus is not transmitted by airborne droplets, nor by touching or eating food from a common plate or using one glass for drinking.

Particular attention should be paid to how a woman concurrently with hepatitis C and pregnancy. There are a lot of questions connected with this, in fact, in fact, quite a large number of pregnant women find hepatitis C markers.

Hepatitis C in pregnant women almost does not adversely affect the liver. Probably, this is due to the fact that in the bodya woman rises the level of sex hormones and immunological restructuring of the body. Hepatitis during pregnancy, doctors do not recommend treatment due to adverse effects of certain medications.

Hepatitis C virus can be transmitted to a child directly during childbirth or during breastfeeding of a newborn. Do not forget that antibodies to the viruswill be transmitted to the child through the placenta and will circulate in the blood of the newborn for another 12-18 months. But it is worth noting that the risk of infection of the child with hepatitis during childbirth is very low.

Determine if the child has become infected with the hepatitis C virus, after childbirth it is possible only with the help of blood tests. Only a blood test between the ages of 3 and 6months will be able to show if there was an infection or not. Another important factor is the presence of antibodies to the virus in the blood of a child who is already over 18 months old. In these cases, it can be argued that the child is infected with hepatitis.

Nevertheless, everything is not so terrible, as one can imagine. In intra-utero infected children, hepatitis Cproceeds not in such an acute form as in adults. Very often he soon disappears spontaneously. But do not forget that at this time, additional research is being done on this issue.

Immediately on the first day after childbirth, the child is injected with a hyperimmune gamma globulin. Another one the same vaccine is done in a month. These measures are taken to prevent hepatitis C disease in the baby.

Women should not be afraid that through breast milk a child can become infected with hepatitis. The risk of transmission of the virus with mother's milk is verylow, so do not be afraid to breastfeed. Hepatitis can only be transmitted if a woman has microtraumatic nipples. Therefore, young mothers should closely monitor their condition.

Separately it is necessary to say about artificial insemination. In case the woman is sick with hepatitis C and inthe force of these or other causes of natural conception does not occur, it can use in vitro fertilization. The female's egg in the laboratory will be "cleaned" of the virus. Therefore, one can not worry about the state of the embryo.

Finally it is worth saying that you should not be afraid of having a baby if you have been diagnosed with viral hepatitis C. Most children are born healthy and strong. But in any case, you should consult a doctor if you are planning to have a baby.