Viral hepatitis C causes violent emotions in the population, however, they are even stronger when the unborn baby is at risk of infection. Meanwhile, hepatitis C and pregnancy are completely compatible concepts, because only 5% of infants are at risk of infection from sick mothers. This risk will be significantly higher if, in addition to hepatitis C, the mother is still sick with AIDS or hepatitis B. Particular attention should be paid to how the woman has hepatitis C and pregnancy, in most cases there are no complications from this disease. However, sometimes in such patients, cholestasis may occur (increased alkaline phosphatase activity, skin itching) or preeclampsia may develop. A pregnant woman infected with hepatitis C is managed by an obstetrician-gynecologist and an infectious disease specialist. It includes careful monitoring of the development of the fetus and the state of health of the mother in order to timely determine possible fetal hypoxia or the threat of termination of pregnancy.
Hepatitis C and pregnancy. Arguments against".
Doctors categorically do not recommend maintaining a pregnancy if the mother is undergoing antiviral therapy at this time. Some of the drugs that are used to treat infected women and men can cause birth defects in the fetus, premature birth and other pathologies of pregnant women. Thus, experts recommend that partners undergoing treatment for viral hepatitis use at least two contraceptives. When undergoing antiviral treatment, breastfeeding is also not recommended. With cracks and bleeding from the nipples, it is recommended to stop feeding the baby until the chest is completely healed.
Hepatitis C and pregnancy. Arguments for".
In the event that a woman is pregnant, but does not undergo treatment, then she has no contraindications to bearing a child, but she is obliged to warn the doctor about her illness. Some experts believe that caesarean section can reduce the risk of fetal morbidity, however, there is no direct evidence in this regard. Sometimes babies from infected mothers can be born with antibodies to hepatitis C, however, by 18 months these antibodies can disappear, so it makes no sense to conduct specific tests for children up to one and a half years old. Pregnancy does not in any way affect the development of hepatitis C, however, if the mother develops cirrhosis, the results of biochemical tests during pregnancy may not be very good.
Treatment or pregnancy?
Many young women who are carriers of viral hepatitis C often ask themselves the question: “Is it possible to get pregnant, and only then do antiviral treatment?” Unfortunately, this question cannot be answered unequivocally. The percentage of successful treatment in women is slightly higher than in men, about 50%, in young women the treatment process is much easier and more successful. Nevertheless, the duration of the course of antiviral therapy for hepatitis C is almost 12 months, plus 6 months after this conception is not recommended. This is why pregnancy and hepatitis C are not mutually exclusive factors. Many women do not want to wait so long and are going to undergo antiviral therapy after the birth of the baby. However, this treatment will have to be postponed until the child grows up, as modern antiviral drugs have many side effects, in particular, such as depression and severe fatigue.
Most tests show that hepatitis C during pregnancy does not pose a particular threat to either the health of the mother or the health of the unborn baby. That is why the future mother should take responsibility for the birth of the child after consulting with the attending physician. Having assessed all the risks, a woman must firmly decide for herself: whether to devote her life to her illness or give this world a small miracle called New Life.