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Avatar universal

I need some answers.

I'm 28 weeks pregnant but when I was 18 weeks I found out that I am hep c positive? Have any of you been told they had hep c while they were pregnant? When I got the phone call I asked the nurse if that meant that my baby was going to have it and she said "not necessarily" and something about if it was inactive I should be fine which she did say it was inactive but I am just worried because I don't want to pass it to my baby...if anyone had hep c when they gave birth and has some input it would be greatly apperciated. Thank you
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Avatar universal
Ok I looked up camphor and it says can make liver disease worse, which means that bath therapy stuff I bought I can't use. So much for my aching muscles it has that and magnesium and some other stuff that's suppose to help with aching muscles.
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Avatar universal
I know nothing about camphor and its uses.  Sorry.

Maybe so,eeone else will have an idea.

Pat
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Avatar universal
Ty so much for the info you helped ease my mind big time. I will tell her she should go for the test. I just have one more question I put in other place ,is camphor bad for the liver?

And Angel I hope you had a nice healthy baby and all is well.
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Avatar universal
Hi, Hon:  Have you had your baby girl yet?

How are you feeling/doing?

Blessings,

Pat
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Avatar universal
As said in the posts above, the chances of your daughter having gotten the virus from you are very small, but for your, and her own peace of mind, she should get tested for viral load.  She might have the Hep C Antibody test first, as, asI believe from what I read above, the mother's antibodys fade from the child after 12 - 18 months.  Please remember, I am not a Dr, but I believe that is what was said.

As for you grand children, if she doesn't have it , she couldn't have passed it on to them.

And EVEN IF SHE DOES, which I don't think, the same odds of her passing it on the her children are as small as the chance of you passint it on to her.  

BTW, Congrats on the 8wks UND, every day your chances are better that you will reach SVR12.  

Blessings,

Pat
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Avatar universal
I did not know that children of people who had hepc will automaticly test positive for the antibodies. I guess I better have a serious talk with my daughter. She has never been tested. So then whats the chance of grandchildren getting it?  I don't know what to do about this now. It will be 2 months since my last med on the 2nd of this month. So far I am still undetected. And so now I have something else to worry about, sigh. Does it ever end. I am also one of those ones that got hepc from the inoculation guns from the service. I regret the day I did that. Within a month I was given an honorable medical discharge due to other health issues. So basicly all I got out of that was the disease.
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Avatar universal
great advice to angela. she'll be blessed with a child before she's blessed again with a cure. don
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5720485 tn?1373563055
I had 3 children not knowing that I had Hep C.  None of them contracted it.   In this case Ignorance is bliss.  I'm sorry you have to go through your pregnancy with this worry.  Just try to focus on the positive things and enjoy your pregnancy and eventual little bundle.  Positive thoughts going your way.    Chances are better than good that all will be fine.
Shark
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317787 tn?1473358451
I think the word inactive comes from years and years ago when not much was known about the virus.  If your blood looked good but you tested positive for HCV the thought was it was inactive.  That wording is archaic, just like saying one is a carrier.
Good idea to see a specialist that knows what they are talking about.  I know it is easier said than done but please try to enjoy your pregnancy.  It is a wonderful time in your life.
Can't wait to hear about your new baby
Dee
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Avatar universal
Enjoy your beautiful baby!
.....Kim

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Avatar universal
Thanks guys...deff makes me feel a ill better to know that the chances are slim that the baby will have it.
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Avatar universal
What Lynn said!! It WILL work out and all will be okay, whether you have hepc or not.  Can't tell you how many women on here have had children who were not infected.

Just wait til after you child is born, and you are through nursing, to begin treatment, at the soonest.  Since you are early on, once you know IF you have a viral Load (actually have hepc) and get your genotype, if so) you may choose to wait a while beyond that, to see what is happening with these newly released treatments (Harvini, Viekira Pak), AND to see what new ones are coming along (BM-S and Merck are working on new meds and, maybe one other Co.).

Welcome to the Forum, relax, enjoy your pregnancy and your new baby!!

Pat
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683231 tn?1467323017
If they only tested you for the hep c anti body that only means yo uwere once exposed to the virus. About 25% of people clear the virus on their own. Those that don't go on to be chronically infected.

The only way to know if you are currently infected with the virus is to have the HCV RNA test to see ifthe virus is circulating in you blood. You can test positive for the antibody but not be infected with hep c if the HCV RNA test is negative.

Also if that is the case you will always test positive for the antibodies. But you are not infected there is no virus if the HCV RNA is undetected. So no risk to your baby and very low risk if you do test positive for the virus.


Also no such thing as inactive either you have the virus or yo udo not. I f you do have the virus it is slowly attacking your liver which after many years of infection will begin to have a development of scar tissue called fibrosis. But it takes for most many years to cause significant damage.

So worst case you have hep c. Then after you have your baby and you feel ready start treatment and get cured with the new meds. Then have you baby tested and make sure he or she is clear which odds are good they will be.

So no worries it will all work out OK?

Congrats on you new little one!

Best wishes to you
Lynn
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Avatar universal
I don't think they checked me for a viral load yet because I found out from my ob that i was positive, she told me that it was inactive but that she wanted me to follow up with my family Dr to get some other tests done on my liver and such. I haven't gone there yet my appt isn't for another 2wks. But if they did the viral load thing they never mentioned it to me. But I really appreciate all of the input because i was stressing this because I figured because you get it from blood that my baby would automatically have it and if that were the case i would feel terrible so the input really helps ease my mind...
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317787 tn?1473358451
Hi I just thought about this, was it your OBGYN who diagnosed you?  I am only asking because that would explain why the nurse mentioned being inactive.  Is it possible that they tested you for HCV then when they tested for a viral load you did not have one?  Sorry just thinking...and hoping
Take care of yourself and your baby :)
Dee
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Avatar universal
Babies born to mothers with hepatitis C have about a 4% chance of transmitting the virus to their babies. All babies born to positive moms will be born with the antibodies. 4% of them will go on to be chronically infected. 96% will lose the antibodies between the ages of 12-18 months. They never had the virus, just their mom's antibodies. For those moms who want to know, they can have an HCV/RNA by PCR test done on the babies around 4 weeks of age. (Check the age with your doc). If they just have the mom's antibodies they will test undetected on the RNA test.

So, I wouldn't worry too much. Your baby has a 96% chance of being unaffected.
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Avatar universal
I found out I had hep c from a blood transfusion at my birth. I have 3 beautiful children 2 have no signs of virus so don't have hep c at testing when both were almost 2. My third is only 7 months and we will test him later. It is a small risk my doctor said 5% so I wouldn't worry too much enjoy your pregnancy!  I had 3 uncomplicated normal pregnancies and breastfeed all  :) hope this eases your mind.
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317787 tn?1473358451
Hi there, the above members have given you excellent advice.  I don't think the nurse you spoke to know what she is talking about...unless she meant something else.
You either have it or you don't.  I am hoping that you are one of the lucky ones that was exposed but the body was able to fight it off.
What concerns me is that the nurse said "if it was inactive" means she doesn't really know.
To me inactive only means that your body fought it off so that while you were exposed you have no viral load and therefore no virus.  Did you get a viral load?
I had two children while ignorant of my HCV status, they are both fine.  Kim is right, it is very very rare to transmit to your baby.
Rbeth is also right, please try to enjoy your pregnancy.  Keep in touch, there are very kind knowledgeable people here who will be more than willing to help you out.
Dee
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Avatar universal
Hi and welcome.   I had 2 beautiful babies not knowing that I had Hep C.
That was over 20 years ago, and they are both negative for the virus.  There were so many of us that were infected and fortunately the virus was not transmitted.  Believe the stats are less then 6% but know that the risk is low.

Should by chance they do contract Hep C it is not life threatening nor is it a danger to the baby.  Fortunately we now have treatment that will cure your child should it occur.  In the past year alone they have unlocked the mystery of how this virus replicates and soon this epidemic will be eradicated.

Try not to worry about passing this on as its highly unlikely.  In the event it does,  treatment is readily available and they can be cured.  It does take years and more likely decades before any damage is done to the liver.  In fact once your baby is born and you are no longer breast feeding, its a good time for you to also be treated.

Best wishes for a healthy, happy baby
....Kim
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Avatar universal

Hi Angela,
First I would say, your doc is saying inactive? Does that mean you no longer have a detectable viral load? That you had it & your body cleared it? Can you get copy of bloodwork your doctor had done?

By no means am I an expert, but my daughter is repro/ endo/infertility (REI) physician & she deals with hepc & pregnancy. I recently asked her about this re: another similar post. In her practice, a potential patient, can have a viral load of less than 1,000 & be considered non risk in pregnancy. So, perhaps knowing, if you have a viral load, what it is would be of comfort to you. No one can tell you 100% unless you do not have any virus.

I'm sure people will jump in here who have had viral loads that were high, while pregnant , and most babies are NOT infected.  There is, of course, a minimal risk if you have active chronic hep c. It does sound like you were told inactive... Ask your doctor to clarify that for you( not nurse) & give you copy of bloodwork done to back that up.

Being a mom, I know it's sounds ridiculous to tell you not to worry, but get facts & TRY not to worry, from your post, & really in general the risk is minimal, I think 4% with active HCV. Get back to forum with numbers & info if you can & enjoy your pregnancy & a healthy baby!

All best to you,
Randy
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