Living
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Pregnancy and HBV: FAQ
Should I be tested for hepatitis B if I am
pregnant?
Why are hepatitis B tests so important
for pregnant women?
Will a hepatitis B infection affect my pregnancy?
If I am pregnant and have hepatitis B, how
can I protect my baby?
Can I breastfeed my baby if I have hepatitis
B?
Should I be tested
for hepatitis B if I am pregnant?
Yes. ALL pregnant women should be tested for hepatitis B! Testing
is especially important for women who fall into high-risk groups
such as health care workers, women from ethnic communities
where hepatitis B is common, spouses or partners living
with an infected person, etc. If you are pregnant, be sure
your doctor tests you for hepatitis B before your baby is born.
Why are these tests
so important for pregnant women?
If you test positive for hepatitis B and are pregnant,
the virus can be passed on to your newborn baby during delivery. If
your doctor is aware that you have hepatitis B, he or
she can make arrangements to have the proper medications in
the delivery room to prevent your baby from being infected. If
the proper procedures are not followed, your baby has
a 95% chance of developing chronic hepatitis B!
Will a hepatitis
B infection affect my pregnancy?
A hepatitis B infection should not cause any problems
for you or your unborn baby during your pregnancy. It
is important for your doctor to be aware of your hepatitis
B infection so that he or she can monitor your health and so
your baby can be protected from an infection after it is born.
If I am pregnant and
have hepatitis B, how can I protect my baby?
If you test positive for hepatitis B, then your newborn must
be given two shots immediately in the delivery room:
- first dose of the hepatitis B vaccine
- one dose of the Hepatitis B Immune Globulin (HBIG).
If these two medications are given correctly within the first
12 hours of life, a newborn has more than a 90% chance of being
protected against a lifelong hepatitis B infection. You
must make sure your baby receives the second and third dose
of the hepatitis B vaccine at one and six months of age to
ensure complete protection.
There is no second chance to protect your newborn baby!
Can I breastfeed my
baby if I have hepatitis B?
The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) recommends that all
women with hepatitis B should be encouraged to breastfeed their
newborns. Read the Full
Report.
The benefits of breastfeeding outweigh the potential risk
of infection, which is minimal. In addition, since it is recommended
that all infants be vaccinated against hepatitis B at birth,
any potential risk is further reduced.
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