Hep c can i have a baby

Of all mums with hep C, less than 6 in babies will be born with hep C. Hep C is passed on through blood-to-blood contact. If a baby is born with hep C it will have been passed on either in the womb or during child-birth.

Hep C is not passed onto your baby through breastmilk. Mothers are encouraged to breastfeed whether or not they have hep C. If your nipples are cracked and bleeding, stop breastfeeding until they are healed.

For more information, call the Hepatitis Infoline or read our Pregnancy, babies and children factsheet. No, you can still have a natural birth if you have hep C. There is no benefit to you or your baby if you have a cesarean delivery. Your baby will only need to be tested for hep C if you had hep C while you were pregnant.

Between birth and 18 months, your baby will have acquired antibodies for hepatitis C from your body. However, you can try a viral test when your child is between 3 and 18 months. The most reliable method for finding out if your child has hepatitis C is to have them tested after they turn 2 years old. The good news is that your child has up to a 40 percent chance of clearing the virus spontaneously by age 2. Some children even clear the virus on their own as late as 7 years old.

Prevention is the best approach. Taking a proactive stance before getting pregnant and undergoing routine prenatal care are critical factors that can improve outcomes for both you and your baby. Use this interactive graphic to learn what happens to…. When Emily Feikls was diagnosed with hepatitis C, she was overcome with feelings of guilt and shame. Here is how she found inner peace and let go of….

If you think you may have hepatitis C, it's best to check in with your doctor. But if you need to test from home, here are 5 of the best testing kits.

It's important to start treatment for hepatitis C as soon as you can after diagnosis in order to avoid the risk of serious complications, such as…. Hepatitis C affects both men and women. The symptoms and complications of the…. Hepatitis C virus HCV infection causes liver inflammation that can lead to liver problems. Rick Nash was diagnosed with hepatitis C when he was 12 years old. Find out what he wishes he knew when he was diagnosed and how he eventually reached….

Hepatitis C should have a minimal effect on you caring for your baby. You can wash them, cook for them, you should feel comfortable doing everything a parent wants to do for their child. The Hepatitis C Trust is a registered charity. We have adopted the Information Standard which means we are committed to providing reliable and evidence-based information. Twitter Facebook Vimeo SoundCloud. These antibodies can persist in the baby for the first 12 to 18 months of life, according to the aforementioned research in the Journal of the Pediatric Infectious Disease Society.

Research published in November in the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine journal cites other research evaluating the presence and decline of anti-HCV antibodies in uninfected infants. Among the studied infants, Learning your child has hepatitis C can be scary.

But the good news is that about 1 in 5 children diagnosed clear the virus on their own for reasons not yet understood. Others become carriers. Yet they will need periodic blood tests to check their viral load and liver health. And if need be, they'll start medication, explains the CPS.