Hepatitis C and pregnancy

Hepatitis C sick more than 200 million people. Often the disease is asymptomatic, so a pregnant woman can learn about it only during routine screening. Although the disease does not affect the development of pregnancy, women must scrupulously avoid situations in which possible contamination. The disease can have severe consequences for the body, and to cure it during pregnancy is not possible.

What is hepatitis C

Hepatitis C is a viral infection. His feature - the defeat of the cells of the liver that can cause cirrhosis and even malignancy (about 35% of cases). Hepatitis C infection occurs mainly through blood, although the possible transfer of the virus from mother to child during childbirth. After getting infection in the body, it does not manifest itself for 2 months. Only a fifth of cases noted a constant fatigue, weakness, nausea, loss of appetite, weight loss and mild pain in the right hypochondrium.

To identify hepatitis C will help the special analysis of blood from a vein. Also doctor who is pregnant, should alert the changes in the levels of enzymes in the biochemical analysis of blood, and complaints of itchy skin, and preeclampsia. Sometimes the disease manifests itself through skin rashes and joint pain.

How hepatitis C affects a child

If during pregnancy revealed antibodies to hepatitis C, you should not immediately panic. Of course, this disease requires a thorough treatment, but at this stage it is not possible as the drugs interferon and ribavirin that treat hepatitis C can harm the fetus. By itself, the virus does not affect the health of the child, does not interfere with the proper development of the fetus and is not an indication for cesarean section. However, if the disease passed into a chronic form, the risk of premature birth and fetal growth delay is still there.

For vaginal delivery, the risk of infection from mother to child ranges from 4 to 10 percent. During an intervention it is also possible infection, although the probability is much lower. The decision about the method of birthing is taken immediately before delivery, depending on the level of antibodies and being pregnant.

Hepatitis C is not a contraindication to breastfeeding, as it is not transmitted through breast milk.

How not to get Hep C

Since infection by the virus occurs through the blood, a pregnant woman should avoid visiting the dental office, nail salons, tattoo parlors. You should not use other people's hygiene products, for example, a razor or toothbrush. You can't pierce ears or do the piercing. Unfortunately, there are situations when contamination cannot be prevented, for example, when the unfair treatment of medical instruments in clinics. Be careful when drawing blood the medical staff always used disposable syringes, opened by you, and also wore disposable gloves.