Hep C, Pregnancy & Babies

What is hepatitis C? Hepatitis C is a virus that causes inflammation of the liver which may lead to liver disease in some people.

Hepatitis C can be transmitted by: Sharing of injecting equipment Use of unsterile body tattooing and body piercing equipment A number of people have acquired hepatitis C through receiving blood transfusions and blood products prior to 1990. Since 1990 all blood has been screened for hepatitis C in Australia.

Sharing razor blades/toothbrushes with someone with hepatitis C

Hepatitis SA provides: • a telephone information and support line on 1800 432 777 • printed information on hepatitis C • referrals to relevant services • support group services • positive speakers who can share their personal hepatitis C experiences • information and education sessions for community, and health and community workers • peer education services • advocacy for the needs of people affected by hepatitis C

Other information on transmission: Hepatitis C is not defined as a sexually transmitted disease. It is not commonly transmitted through sex. Risk increases if an STD such as genital herpes is present. Women should have safe sex during menstruation.

Call the Hepatitis SA Helpline on 1800 437 222 for more information.

Hepatitis SA

Ph 1800 437 222 or (08) 8362 8443 Fax (08) 8362 8559 3 Hackney Rd Hackney SA 5069 PO Box 782 Kent Town SA 5071 www.hepsa.asn.au

SA Health has contributed funds towards this Program.

Last update: May 2016

All images © r8r (www.flickr.com/photos/r8r)

How is it transmitted?

Hepatitis C is a virus found in blood. Blood containing hepatitis C must enter the bloodstream of a person for transmission to take place.

Hepatitis SA is a non-profit community based organisation established to provide information and support to people affected by hepatitis C.

Hep C, Pregnancy & Babies

Can I give hepatitis C to my unborn baby?

Is it OK for me to breastfeed if I have hepatitis C?

The risk of mother-to-baby transmission of hepatitis C is low (approximately 5% in Australia). This means that approximately 95% of babies born to mothers with hepatitis C do not have the virus.

No cases of transmission via breast milk have been reported, therefore the risk of transmission via breast milk is considered to be very low.

Breastfeeding is considered to be essential for the healthy development of babies and is therefore highly encouraged for hepatitis C positive women.

Hepatitis C infection in the father will not infect the baby.

Hepatitis C should not make any difference to the labour and birth of the baby but a scalp electrode should not be used if the mother is hep C-positive.

The risk of a baby getting hepatitis C during pregnancy is increased if: • the mother is co-infected with HIV/AIDS or the immune system is otherwise suppressed.

• if the mother catches hepatitis C during or just before her pregnancy.

Both HIV and new infection means there is a lot of virus in the blood. The more virus in your blood, the more likely you are to pass it on to the baby. The level of virus in your blood can be measured by a test called a PCR test. Talk to your doctor if you would like to have a PCR test.

Mothers need to be very careful if they have cracked and bleeding nipples and the baby has any cuts, cracks or lesions in their mouth.

Testing babies for hepatitis C Babies born to women with hepatitis C will have hepatitis C antibodies in their blood.

This is because babies get antibodies from their mother to protect them when they are newly born. These babies will test hepatitis C antibody positive at first. This does not mean that the baby has hepatitis C. At about 8 months babies will start clearing the mother’s antibodies and develop their own immune system.

It is advisable to wait until around 12-18 months before testing babies for hepatitis C. The baby will need to have a PCR test. This will determine whether the hepatitis C virus is present.

For further information you or your doctor may want to contact the Infectious Diseases Unit of the Women’s and Children’s Hospital on 8161 7000.

If nipples are cracked and or bleeding then it is recommended to stop breastfeeding and discard any expressed breast milk until the skin on and around the nipple has healed.