Pregnancy with hepatitis C scares many expectant mothers and causes anxiety and stress. Unfortunately, in the age of unique technologies, quite often the diagnosis is made already during the gestation of the baby, which only complicates the course of the disease and becomes a risk factor for the development of fetal pathologies. The disease is diagnosed by screening for an infection that is given to every woman in an interesting position. According to statistics, every thirty mothers are diagnosed with hepatitis C, which indicates its prevalence. That is why it is so important to regularly undergo a medical examination.
Unfortunately, today hepatitis C during pregnancy has not been fully studied. It is only known that it can lead to spontaneous abortion, infection of the fetus and the development of abnormalities in it. Let's take a closer look at the disease and the degree of its effect on the female body and the body of the unborn baby.
About hepatitis C
Hepatitis C in women, however, as in men, refers to viral diseases of one of the vital organs of the human body - the liver. How does infection happen? In fact, the virus most often penetrates the body through the blood. Signs of infection are often blurred, as a result of which the disease will soon become chronic. Unfortunately, the spread of hepatitis C among the inhabitants of our planet is increasing every year.
Where can I get infected?
In order for a pregnancy with hepatitis C not to become a headache for you, it is important to observe precautions, avoiding all foci of infection. To date, the virus is most often transmitted in the process:
- blood transfusion - in the last few years it has been possible to minimize the risk of infection during donor care through a thorough examination of biomaterials;
- unprotected sexual contact with a virus carrier;
- use of a syringe of an infected person;
- neglect of personal hygiene - as statistics show, the virus is transmitted after using a razor, scissors, a tooth carrier;
- cosmetic procedures - no matter how terrible it may sound, but the facts of infection after manicure and pedicure are growing every year;
- labor activity - it is during the passage of the fetus through the birth canal and infection occurs.
It is important to understand that hepatitis C virus is certainly not transmitted by airborne droplets.
First symptoms
Pregnancy with hepatitis C is dangerous because often a woman does not even suspect the presence of infection in her body, thereby aggravating the condition and subsequent treatment. The disease proceeds hidden, but from the first days in the body irreversible processes begin to occur, which can ultimately lead to complete destruction of the liver. This is precisely the insidiousness of the disease.
Numerous studies in this area have found that in only 20% of cases, infection occurs with severe symptoms. Patients complain of general weakness, drowsiness, nausea and a complete lack of appetite. Weight loss, and sharp, can also be a symptom of pathology. But most often pain is noted in the right hypochondrium, in the liver.
Diagnostics
In order to make an accurate diagnosis, a woman has to undergo a number of laboratory tests:
- determination of the presence of antibodies to the virus in the blood;
- determination of AsAT and AlAT, bilirubin in the blood;
- PCR;
- ultrasound of the suspected lesion area;
- liver tissue biopsy.
Doubtful analysis for hepatitis C during pregnancy requires repeated testing.
Effect on pregnancy
How dangerous is infection? Is it accompanied by the development of complication? In most cases, the hepatitis C virus during pregnancy does not affect its course, which is confirmed not only by numerous studies, but also by real facts. Complications are extremely rare. The only thing is that a woman throughout the entire period needs even closer attention, because there is a danger of spontaneous miscarriage.
Observation of the patient even during pregnancy lies entirely on the shoulders of not only the gynecologist, but also the infectious disease specialist, since only in this case can the safety of the future mother and child be ensured.
Danger of fetal infection
How dangerous is the disease for the unborn baby? Every woman asks this question. The probability of infection of the fetus is only 5%, while it is simply impossible to completely prevent infection by 100%, even to the most experienced specialists in the field of medicine. Under the influence of other infections in the body of a woman, this probability increases many times.
We want to dispel another profound error of modern women. Many of them believe that by conducting an operative delivery, that is, a cesarean section, the fact of the transmission of the virus from mother to child can be prevented. In fact, it is not a preventive measure, on the contrary, it is dangerous for the mother and child, accompanied by complications and the duration of recovery. That is why without indications for surgery, you should not risk the health of a woman.
Even in conditions of minimal likelihood of infection, an analysis of hepatitis C in an infant is a mandatory and mandatory measure. The presence of antibodies in the body of the crumbs of the first 18 months of his life is not a fact of infection, because their origin is not maternal.
Recommendations for pregnant women
Every infected woman should understand what harm her disease can bring to her baby, as well as labor. Numerous laboratory and medical studies conducted in this area indicate risk factors. The burden of the mother is an important factor in the case of vertical transmission of the virus. The likelihood increases if the concentration of virus RNA in the blood serum of a woman exceeds the mark of 1,000,000 copies per milliliter. In the case of a future mother's diagnosis of HIV infection, the probability of a child becoming infected increases to 16%, which is why it is so important to undergo a comprehensive examination.
In the first trimesters of pregnancy, it is important to control the level of the mother's viral load so that in no case does it increase. This allows you to control pregnancy and minimize the risk of infection of the fetus. Perinatal diagnostic methods that greatly increase the risk of intrauterine infection of the baby should be avoided. Such an examination is allowed only in emergency cases, a woman should be notified of this and all risks.
Treatment methods
In the world of modern technology and unique methods of combating diseases, there is still no vaccine for hepatitis C. Nevertheless, it is treatable. The sooner the pathology is diagnosed, the higher the chances of a successful treatment of hepatitis in pregnant women. Every modern woman should know about this.
To successfully fight the infection, doctors strongly recommend an integrated approach. Its basis is based on the use of powerful antiviral drugs, primarily Ribavirin and Interferon. However, the results of recent studies should be taken into account - they proved the negative effect of these products on the fetus developing in the womb. That is why it is extremely undesirable to deal with the disease during pregnancy.
In medical practice, there are cases when doctors prescribed a special therapy to the expectant mother. Usually this happens only when the condition of the woman worsens, which indicates the rapid development of the disease. In cases where treatment is a necessary measure, doctors opt for those methods that can cause the least harm to the mother and child, most often preferring drugs based on ursodeoxycholic acid.
Labor and hepatitis C
The expectant mother is concerned about numerous fears, one of them is hepatitis C. Pregnancy and childbirth become a problem with infection. In medicine, statistics are being made on which delivery method is accompanied by minimal risks of mother-to-child transmission. At the moment, it has not been possible to obtain a definite answer to this question, since the probability of infection, both in the case of natural childbirth and with a caesarean section, is approximately the same.
Caesarean section is a necessary measure prescribed by a gynecologist only in case of indications, in particular, unsatisfactory indicators of liver tests. This method of delivery, as a rule, is prescribed to one mother out of 15. Infection from the mother can occur only during passage through the birth canal. If the staff is aware of the woman’s illness, then the likelihood of infection is minimized. That is why it is so important to give birth in the presence of the doctor who led your pregnancy. Remember to observe all possible precautions.
About breastfeeding
We tried to figure out what is the relationship between hepatitis C and pregnancy. The reviews of those women who went through this are direct evidence that, even with such a diagnosis, you can give birth to a strong and healthy baby, and then successfully get rid of the pathology.
Breastfeeding with hepatitis C is another topic that should be addressed. It is important to understand that breast milk is a way of transmitting infection from mother to baby. An infected woman should understand this when deciding whether to breastfeed. It would seem that the situation is one-sided, because no mother wants to harm her child. But there are some nuances that should also be taken into account. The risk of infection arises in case of damage to the nipples, which is so characteristic of breastfeeding. In addition, the risk of contracting a baby with mother’s milk has not been thoroughly studied; to date, no final results on this issue have been obtained.
Prevention
It is much easier to prevent infection than to try to cure a baby born with pathology later. That is why all the gynecologists in the world urge you to plan a pregnancy, passing all the necessary tests. A married couple preparing to conceive must pass an analysis for hepatitis C. Moreover, extreme caution must be exercised during pregnancy: avoid common areas, contact with the physiological environment.
The entire instrument used by specialists during the diagnosis and examination of the expectant mother should be sterile, preferably disposable. The fact is that recently cases of infection of a woman have become more frequent during the delivery of standard tests and even during examination on a gynecological chair, so additional caution certainly will not hurt in this case.
And one more thing: many women who have encountered such a serious illness during pregnancy consider their life to be over. This is not a reason to become depressed, on the contrary, it is necessary to gain strength and overcome the disease, avoiding infection of the fetus. In practice, many women managed to bear and give birth to an absolutely healthy child.