Can you pass hepatitis C to your baby?

Hi Brpalazzo, thank you for reaching out with your question, and our apologies for the delay in responding!

I want to share some articles from our community about mother-to-child transmission. This article mentions that for every 100 infants who are born to mothers with hepatitis C, that 4-6 of those babies may get the virus. Transmission risks can be greatly reduced by letting your healthcare team know about your status, the earlier the better.

Our editorial team also posted this article, which discusses the possibility of treating the virus before getting pregnant.

To answer your question in short, the transmission risks are low though possible. We definitely recommend speaking with your doctor about hepatitis C and transmission before or during pregnancy.

Be well, Matt (Team Member, HepatitisC.net)

Thank you for reaching out with your question. It does pose as a great concern for mothers who have hep c.
When I was diagnosed in 2005 I had already had my two children and was devastated by the chances of passing this on to them.
I am happy to say that both my children came by negative and it was certainly a great relief.
I do agree with Matt's statement on the transmission is low. I do recommend talking to your physician about your concern as well. He/She may have some information to pass along to you to read up on.
All my best
Kimberly Morgan Bossley - Moderator