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Hepatitis C and pregnancy. This is not a sentence! Hepatitis C and pregnancy, is Hepatitis C possible in pregnant women

For the first time, a person fell ill with the hepatitis C virus 300 years ago. Today in the world about 200 million people (3% of the total population of the Earth) are infected with this virus. Most people are not even aware of the presence of the disease, since they are hidden carriers. In some people, the virus multiplies in the body for several decades, in such cases they speak of a chronic course of the disease. This form of the disease poses the greatest danger, since it often leads to cirrhosis or liver cancer. As a rule, infection with viral hepatitis C in most cases occurs at a young age (15-25 years).

Of all the known forms, hepatitis C virus is the most severe.

The mode of transmission occurs from person to person through blood. Often, infection occurs in medical institutions: during surgery, during blood transfusion. In some cases, it is possible to become infected through the household, for example, through syringes from drug addicts. Sexual transmission is not excluded, as well as from an infected pregnant woman to a fetus.

Symptoms of hepatitis C

In many infected people, the disease does not make itself felt at all for a long period of time. At the same time, irreversible processes occur in the body, leading to cirrhosis or liver cancer. For such insidiousness, hepatitis C is also called the “affectionate killer”.

20% of people still notice a deterioration in their health. They feel weakness, decreased performance, drowsiness, nausea, and decreased appetite. Many of them are losing weight. There may also be discomfort in the right hypochondrium. Sometimes the disease manifests itself only with joint pain or various skin manifestations.

The detection of the hepatitis C virus by a blood test is not difficult.

Hepatitis C treatment

There is no vaccine for hepatitis C today, but it is quite possible to cure it. Note that the earlier the virus is detected, the better the chances of success.

If a pregnant woman is infected with the hepatitis C virus, she must be examined for characteristic signs of chronic liver disease. After the baby is born, a more detailed hepatological examination is carried out.

Treatment of hepatitis C is complex, and the main drugs used in the treatment are antiviral.

Fetal infection

In most cases, the hepatitis C virus does not have any negative effect on the course of pregnancy. In fact, the possibility of infecting a child with hepatitis C exists only in 2-5% of the total number of infected expectant mothers. If a woman is simultaneously a carrier of HIV, then the risk of infection increases to 15%. In addition, there are a number of conditions and conditions under which a child can become infected. Among them, first of all, there are hypovitaminosis, poor nutrition. The bulk of cases when the fetus is infected with hepatitis C occurs at the time of childbirth or the next postpartum period.

How to give birth?

It has been proven that the frequency with which the hepatitis C virus is transmitted from mother to child does not depend on whether the baby was born naturally or by caesarean section. There is a category of medical professionals who claim that the risk of infection is lower during a cesarean section. Which way of delivery to choose in a particular case is up to the woman and her attending physician. In some cases, when the patient is also infected with other viruses (for example, hepatitis B or human immunodeficiency), a planned cesarean is recommended.

Child

During pregnancy, antibodies to hepatitis C are transmitted to the child through the placenta. After birth, they can circulate in the blood for one and a half years, and this is not a sign that the baby was infected from the mother.

Examination of the child for possible infection during childbirth should be carried out at 6 months after birth (blood test for HCV RNA) and at 1.5 years (blood test for anti-HCV and HCV RNA).

Immediately after birth, doctors closely monitor the health of the newborn.

Breast-feeding

It is not prohibited, but it is necessary to ensure that the baby does not injure the mother's nipples, otherwise the risk of infection increases. The benefits of breastfeeding for babies are believed to far outweigh the risk of contracting the virus. The mother should be careful not to develop sores and aphthae in the baby's mouth, as infection can occur through them during breastfeeding. If the woman is also infected with the human immunodeficiency virus, then breastfeeding is contraindicated.

Prevention of hepatitis C

To avoid contracting the hepatitis C virus, there are a few things to keep in mind. Under no circumstances should you use other people's things: razors, toothbrushes, nail clippers, nail files or other items that may come into contact with blood. If you have to use the services of a tattoo artist, make sure that the tools are properly sterilized. It is better if disposable needles are used for these purposes.

During sexual intercourse (especially promiscuous ones), you can reduce the risk of infection by using condoms.

Specially for- Elena Kichak

From the guest

Found antibodies to hepatitis C for 5 weeks. How many experiences were words can not convey. The ZhK gave a referral to an infectious disease specialist. He laughed, diagnosed him as a carrier of hepatitis C and said "don't worry, if you give birth, then come." In the ZhK, the analysis was repeated. Negative.

From the guest

Today, at the turnout, they said they might have found Hepatitis C ... there are signs that have not yet been fully identified. On December 30 they said for sure they will say ... here I am sitting and torturing myself ... where did I get this from ... and I'm very nervous ... pregnancy 27 weeks

Today, many women are carriers of viral hepatitis C, but I do not know from this. They often find out about their diagnosis when they are pregnant. In most cases, this information is shocking and frightening for a pregnant woman. The question arises about the possibility of carrying and giving birth to a healthy child.

What is hepatitis

Hepatitis is an inflammatory disease of the liver that is often triggered by viral pathogens. In addition to viral forms of the disease, a group is also distinguished, which is caused by the toxic effects of substances. These include autoimmune hepatitis and radiation.

Hepatitis C belongs to the viral group of diseases. Promotes the development of malignant neoplasms.

Today this species is the most dangerous. The characteristic latent form of the course of the disease often leads to serious complications. Are the cause of disability or death.

How a pregnant woman can get hepatitis C

Viral hepatitis C is widespread throughout the world. It is considered a disease of the young. It is most often diagnosed in people under the age of 30.

The main routes of infection:

  1. Tattooing.
  2. Piercing piercing.
  3. Introduction of injection with a common needle (including drug addiction).
  4. Sharing personal care products (toothbrushes, razors, manicure tools).
  5. During operations.
  6. When treating teeth.
  7. Unprotected sexual contact with an infected person.

Thus, the main route of infection with hepatitis C is blood and genital fluids.

The disease is not transmitted by airborne droplets, through hugs and handshakes, when using common utensils.

It is possible to live together with a sick person, provided that all precautions are taken.

Pregnancy can provoke the development of hepatitis C if women have previously been a carrier of it. This is due to a decrease in the efficiency of the immune system.

Is the disease transmitted to the fetus

Every woman who was diagnosed with hepatitis C during pregnancy worries about the possibility of infection and the consequences for the child.

The likelihood of infection exists, but it is quite small.

Doctors say that the probability of intrauterine infection of a child does not exceed 5%.

Also, it is believed that the possibility of infection during childbirth is higher than during gestation. Since the risk of the mother's blood entering the child's body increases.

Ways of transmission of the virus from mother to child:

  • during childbirth - when maternal blood enters the child's body;
  • a newborn baby can get the virus from the mother at the time of caring for him - processing the umbilical cord. However, if you follow precautions, then the likelihood of such infection is small;
  • during lactation - if the nipples are traumatized (cracks or sores).

After birth, the baby is monitored and his blood is regularly checked for antibodies. Tests are taken at the age of 1, 3 and 6 months.

If there is no RNA virus in the blood, then the child is healthy.

If the test results are positive, then the child will be prescribed appropriate treatment.

Types of the disease and their effect on the course of pregnancy

There are 2 forms of the course of viral hepatitis C:

  • Spicy;
  • Chronic.

Chronic hepatitis C is a form when a person has been sick for more than 6 months.

Often, pregnant women find themselves in this particular type of hepatitis.

It should be noted that the chronic form is practically safe for the fetus. It is not the cause of congenital malformations of the child and pregnancy complications.

Chronic hepatitis C does not adversely affect the possibility of conceiving a child.

Along with this, this form is often the cause of premature birth and stunting of the child. This is due to the presence of cirrhosis of the liver in the mother.

In case of a positive result, she will receive the necessary consultation and explain the tactics of behavior in the current situation.

If the result of the analysis is questionable, then there is an opportunity to additionally conduct a study called. It will allow you to accurately determine the presence of a disease in a woman.

Treatment of hepatitis C in pregnant women

Medicines used to treat hepatitis C are contraindicated during pregnancy. This is due to the fact that they provoke the development of intrauterine pathologies of fetal development.

In most cases, all treatment stops at the time of pregnancy or does not even start.

In some cases, it is necessary to carry out drug therapy.

Usually drugs are prescribed in cases of biliary stasis or if stones have been found.

It is necessary to understand that even if it becomes necessary to prescribe medicines, they will be selected in such a way as to cause the least harm to the unborn child.

If a pregnant woman has an acute form of hepatitis C, then all treatment will be aimed at maintaining the pregnancy. In this case, the threat of miscarriage increases significantly.

How to give birth with hepatitis C

To date, there is no single medical opinion on the method of delivery of a pregnant woman who is infected with viral hepatitis C.

It is believed that the risk of infection of a child during childbirth is significantly reduced if an operation is performed.

On the territory of Russia, women infected with hepatitis C have the right to choose the method of delivery. Doctors are obliged to inform the woman in labor about the possible risks and complications.

Also, a guideline for choosing a delivery option is the level of a woman's viral load.

If it is high enough, then caesarean section should be preferred.

Viral hepatitis C and pregnancy are compatible. This disease is not a contraindication to conception and childbirth.

The question "Is it possible to give birth with hepatitis C?" has an unambiguous answer "Yes". Even if the mother has a disease, the chance of giving birth to a healthy baby is quite high.

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Video: hepatitis C and pregnancy

A very large percentage of women in such a developed country as Russia find the hepatitis C virus in their blood when they begin to undergo routine screening in the early stages of pregnancy.

On the one hand, it is better earlier than "late", given the insidious nature of the development of the disease. On the other hand, it is an alarming indicator of the scale of the spread of the virus and our attitude towards our health.

What do you need to know about hepatitis?

Hepatitis is a dangerous infectious inflammatory disease of the liver.

There are several types of hepatitis - A, B, C, D and E. The common unifying feature of these diseases is that they are all diseases of one organ - the liver. And the difference is manifested in the severity of the course of the disease and its consequences, methods and time of treatment, and in the possibility of cure as such.

In addition, the causative agent each type of hepatitis has a different virus, therefore, the hepatitis B vaccine will be helpless in trying to neutralize the hepatitis C virus when it enters the human body.

It is important to know that the types of hepatitis and are transmitted in different ways. So, the most common hepatitis A, or banal jaundice, you can get infected through unwashed vegetables and fruits and drinking unboiled water.

Hepatitis E you can get infected in a similar way. But, there is an important difference - this type of disease is very widespread in the so-called "third world" countries with a hot tropical climate. The lack of a sufficient amount of clean drinking water, the low level of development of medicine contribute to the high prevalence of the disease.

Hepatitis E is extremely insidious for pregnant women, fraught with severe pregnancy and dangerous complications for women and children.

Therefore, if you have already found yourself in these conditions, it is recommended to avoid drinking suspicious water and even ice, the safety of which may arise in doubt.

Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C virus enters the body through blood or through sexual contact. If pregnant, an infected woman has a chance of inheriting hepatitis C through the placenta or during childbirth.

Certain types of hepatitis are relatively easy to diagnose and treat. For example, acute form of hepatitis B, initially similar to the flu, already on the third day from the onset of the disease shows characteristic symptoms: nausea and vomiting, an icteric skin tone and pain in the right hypochondrium.

With a correct and timely diagnosis and professional care, acute hepatitis B is cured within a week or two, and hepatitis C - within six months without fatal consequences.

In the case of the transition from the acute stage of the disease to the chronic, treatment takes not months, but years, and there is no 100% chance of a complete recovery. In the worst case, it can end up with cirrhosis or liver cancer.

A common feature of all types of hepatitis is yellowing of the skin, mucous membranes and whites of the eyes. If all this is accompanied by signs of severe food poisoning, nausea and vomiting occurs, body temperature rises - do not pull, this is an alarming symptom.

All hepatitis is a liver disease, and, although this is perhaps the most patient human organ, in case of an acute inflammatory process, it makes itself felt. If the liver is visually enlarged and this is accompanied by any signs of discomfort in the form of pain, this is a compelling reason to consult a doctor.

The most insidious type of hepatitis is the silent killer, chronic hepatitis C. For a long time, an infected person may not notice any signs of this disease. The characteristic symptomatology manifests itself at the chronic stage of the disease, when the processes of liver damage have gone far enough.

This is a violation of carbohydrate metabolism, which is characterized by a constant high blood sugar. And as any deviation in pregnant women is not welcomed due to possible complications.

In rare cases, pregnant women infected with hepatitis C are observed signs of cholestasis or, as it is also called,.

This phenomenon is associated with insufficient liver function and, as a consequence, a decrease in the flow of bile into the intestines. As a result of this failure, bile salts accumulate. All this leads to the fact that there is severe itching, and most often at night. However, these phenomena safely disappear within two weeks after childbirth.

Pregnant women with hepatitis C may be at risk of developing gestosis, a few percent more likely than a healthy woman. This extremely unpleasant phenomenon, characteristic of the late stage of pregnancy, is also called "Late toxicosis".

Doctors, who for the most part are condescending to the toxicosis of the first trimester, consider these manifestations to be quite dangerous and require treatment in order to avoid detachment of the placenta and fetal death.

For the development of the fetus, "mother's" hepatitis C can bring some troubles. The risk of premature birth and the birth of an underweight baby is considered a proven risk.

Such a newborn baby will certainly need increased attention and care.

Features of the treatment of hepatitis C during pregnancy

If you are pregnant and you have a positive reaction to antibodies to hepatitis C, or vice versa: if you are infected and "discovered" pregnancy, you need to understand that there will be certain nuances.

Pregnant women are contraindicated a number of drugs that are used in the treatment of hepatitis C. These necessarily include interferon and ribavirin... This is due to the optional, but possible risks of developing pathologies in the fetus. And the task of every doctor is to foresee even a hypothetical probability of such a risk.

It is worth focusing on the obvious: a woman in a position who has a history of hepatitis C and wants to give birth to a healthy child, it is absolutely not necessary to consume alcohol in any form.

This will almost certainly increase the risk of liver damage, which will affect your health and a serious percentage of the likelihood of developing late toxicosis. And this, in turn, can cause rejection, and as a result, the death of the fetus.

The second scenario is. Also, I must say, there is little good.

Ideally, you should also give up smoking, and complete this series of feats in the name of the unborn child with a transition to a healthy and balanced diet.

Not recommended neither in the first nor in subsequent trimesters of pregnancy antiviral therapy. It involves the use of interferon-α and ribavirin, the undesirability of which has already been discussed.

There are cases when a pregnant woman with hepatitis C virus drug treatment may be indicated... This is the last trimester of pregnancy to reduce the signs of cholestasis or to minimize the risk of developing preeclampsia.

The combination of hepatitis C and pregnancy scares many expectant mothers, but, unfortunately, today women increasingly have to deal with this diagnosis precisely during the period of bearing a child. Screening for various infections, including hepatitis B and C, as well as HIV, allows to detect the disease. Statistics show that markers of hepatitis C are present in the blood of every thirtieth Russian woman - as you can see, the probability of getting into the sad statistics is not so small. Today we will talk about how it spreads, whether treatment is possible and how serious the consequences of hepatitis can be in pregnant women.

How is hepatitis C spread?

There is an opinion that hepatitis C infection is possible only through sexual contact. This is partly true, but the main route of transmission is hematogenous. In other words, the disease begins to develop when the hepatitis C virus enters the bloodstream of a healthy person. This can happen in the following cases:

  • When using used disposable syringes and needles. This is the most common way hepatitis is transmitted. It is believed that half of the people who use intravenous drugs suffer from this disease;
  • When carrying out medical procedures with poorly sterilized instruments;
  • When tattooing or piercing with a previously used needle;
  • With direct contact of a healthy person with a sick person through blood, in particular through transfusion. However, today this method of infection is rare, since since 1999 all donor materials have been checked for the presence of the hepatitis C virus before being administered to the patient.

It is noteworthy that the causative agent of the disease can remain viable in dried blood for several weeks. This means that you can get infected by using manicure supplies, razors, toothbrushes and other personal belongings of an infected person.

Hepatitis C and pregnancy: how to understand if there is a reason to panic?

The most reliable way to dot the i's is to get tested for hepatitis during pregnancy. As we already mentioned, it is included in the routine screening that all expectant mothers undergo. You should not rely on the presence of specific manifestations of the disease - in many people with hepatitis C, clinical symptoms are either absent altogether, or appear to an insignificant extent, or are perceived as signs of another ailment. However, the insidiousness of this virus cannot be underestimated - slowly but surely, hepatitis can lead to cirrhosis and even liver cancer.

In the case of primary infection with hepatitis C, there may be fatigue and general malaise, like with the flu. Jaundice, which signals a malfunction in the liver, is uncommon for patients with hepatitis C. In the chronic course of the disease, it is rather difficult to correlate the observed symptoms with hepatitis. Usually, patients complain about:

  • Fatigue;
  • Muscle pain;
  • Nausea;
  • Feeling anxious, depressed;
  • Pain in the right side (from the liver);
  • Memory and concentration problems.

Treatment of hepatitis C during pregnancy

Specific antiviral treatment of hepatitis C with interferon and ribavirin during pregnancy is strictly prohibited. This is due to the fact that ribavirin has a teratogenic effect, and the effect of interferon on fetal development has not yet been sufficiently studied. If the disease was detected at the planning stage, it is recommended to conceive no earlier than 6 months after the end of therapy. During gestation, such women are prescribed plant-based hepatoprotectors that are safe for the fetus (Essentiale, Karsil, Hofitol). Particular attention is paid to adherence to a special diet.

And although hepatitis C and pregnancy seem to be incompatible concepts, abortion is contraindicated in the acute stage of any viral hepatitis. In the event of a threat of miscarriage, doctors do everything possible to keep the baby. Childbirth in infected patients takes place in specialized departments of maternity hospitals with strict adherence to anti-epidemic measures. It is worth noting that the likelihood of infection of a newborn with a cesarean section is somewhat lower than with spontaneous childbirth. There are currently no specific measures to prevent the transmission of the hepatitis C virus to a child.

Children born to women with this diagnosis are under the supervision of infectious disease doctors. It is possible to finally establish whether the transmission of the disease from mother to child has occurred only by two years.

Possible consequences of hepatitis C during pregnancy

Women who have pregnancy and hepatitis C at the same time ask themselves: what is the likelihood of contracting a fetal ailment? As shown by the data of numerous studies, the incidence of infection in a child ranges from 3 to 10% and is regarded as low. Typically, transmission of the virus occurs during childbirth. The likelihood of contracting an infant with hepatitis C while breastfeeding is extremely small, so doctors advise against depriving him of breast milk. At the same time, it is necessary to monitor the condition of the nipples: the presence of microtraumas significantly increases the risk of infection, especially in cases where the mother has a high viral load. 4.6 out of 5 (28 votes)

Diseases of a pregnant woman can negatively affect not only her health, but also the development of the baby. And hepatitis B during pregnancy is a very dangerous ailment that requires special control and attention from doctors. Therefore, it is important to register with the antenatal clinic as early as possible and undergo a full examination, which will indicate the presence or absence of a disease in a pregnant woman, in order to correctly build a plan for observation or treatment by doctors.

Hepatitis B is a serious disease that is a serious problem throughout the world due to the continuing increase in the number of cases, as well as the fairly frequent development of complications such as cirrhosis of the liver, carcinoma, as well as a chronic or active form of the disease.

The incubation period of the disease lasts on average 12 weeks, but in some cases it can range from 2 months to six months. From the moment the virus enters the bloodstream, its active reproduction begins. Hepatitis B has an acute and chronic form of the disease. The latter cannot be cured - a person will have to live with it throughout his life, and an acute one is amenable to therapy and full recovery occurs with the development of stable immunity to this virus.

According to statistics, out of a thousand pregnant women, up to 10 women suffer from chronic and 1-2 acute forms of the disease.

Hepatitis B is an infectious disease, therefore, during pregnancy, it carries the risk of vertical transmission of the infection - from mother to child. In most cases, infection does not occur intrauterinely (the likelihood of this is very low - about 3-10% of cases), but at the time of childbirth, since there is contact with infected blood and cervical secretions. If infected during pregnancy or childbirth, the baby has a high chance of becoming chronic carriers of the virus. In young children, the probability of the transition of the disease to a chronic state reaches 95%, while, having become infected in adulthood, the vast majority of patients recover.

How does the infection take place?

Group B hepatitis is spread from an infected person through blood.

The most common modes of transmission of the virus are:

  • Blood transfusion. Due to the fact that this method has a high probability of contracting hepatitis B (up to 2% of donors are carriers of the disease), blood is checked for the presence of the virus before the infusion procedure.
  • The use of non-sterile needles, manicure supplies and other things on which blood could remain (even when dried). The sharing of the same syringe needle by several people is the most common route of infection among drug addicts.
  • Sexual contact. Every year this route of infection is becoming more common.
  • From mother to child. Infection can occur both intrauterinely and at the time of passage of the birth canal. The likelihood of infection is especially high if an active virus or an acute form of it is found in the mother.

It is not always possible to reliably find out exactly how the infection occurred - in about 40% of cases, the method of infection remains unknown.

Symptoms of the disease

If the disease was acquired before the pregnancy began or the woman found out about it, then the presence of hepatitis B is usually recognized when blood tests are taken immediately after registration. An analysis for this ailment is mandatory during pregnancy, it is carried out at the first examination of a woman, and if it turns out to be positive, this is not necessarily an indicator of chronic hepatitis.

A positive test result is a reason to seek advice from a hepatologist, who, after a certain examination, can establish whether the virus is active. If the activity of the virus is confirmed, then treatment is required, which is contraindicated in pregnancy, since antiviral drugs affect the fetus. And since the risk of intrauterine infection is not great, the woman's condition is monitored until delivery, and the child is vaccinated against hepatitis B immediately after delivery.

Chronic hepatitis B (CHB) during pregnancy and without it in most cases is absolutely asymptomatic, so it is important to undergo an examination to detect the disease. And the acute form of the disease has an incubation period of 5 weeks to six months and can manifest itself with symptoms such as:

  • Nausea and vomiting (they are the main symptom of toxicosis, therefore, they can indicate hepatitis only in combination with other symptoms);
  • General weakness associated with lack of appetite and fever;
  • Change in the color of urine (it becomes much darker than usual - dark yellow);
  • Light feces;
  • Painful sensations in the joints;
  • Increased liver volume;
  • Abdominal pain or discomfort in the right upper quadrant;
  • Yellowness of the skin and eyes, which are visible to the naked eye;
  • Fast fatiguability;
  • Sleep disturbances;
  • In some cases, confusion.

Read also on the topic

How do you get hepatitis C at home?

If a pregnant woman discovers such symptoms after receiving negative test results in the first half of pregnancy, it is imperative to tell your gynecologist about this and be examined by a hepatologist. This will help reduce the likelihood of complications, as well as reduce the risk of infection of the baby during childbirth.

Childbirth with hepatitis

If hepatitis B is detected, then a woman has a reasonable question - how, in this case, childbirth occurs. Since with natural delivery, the risk of infection of the fetus reaches 95% due to close contact with infected blood and vaginal secretions of the mother, doctors recommend a caesarean section, as this somewhat reduces the likelihood of transmitting the virus to the child. The risk of infecting a child directly depends on the activity of the virus - the lower it is, the more likely it is to give birth to a healthy baby.

The birth of a woman with this disease takes place in special infectious maternity hospitals, where special conditions are created for admitting patients with hepatitis and other viruses. If there are no such hospitals in the city, childbirth is taken in the maternity wards of the infectious diseases hospital with the provision of a separate box or ward for the woman in labor.

Hepatitis B is not a contraindication for breastfeeding, contrary to the opinion of most women. An important condition is the observance of the integrity of the nipples - if cracks form from feeding, you should refrain (in this case, you should not give the baby expressed milk, which could get blood).

What to do if hepatitis B is detected during pregnancy?

Diagnosis of the disease during pregnancy is carried out three times by testing for HBsAg. In the case of a positive test, the analysis is usually repeated to exclude a false result. If hepatitis B is confirmed during pregnancy, the woman is sent to an appointment with a hepatologist. He conducts a more complete examination to identify the form of the disease (chronic or acute) using enzyme immunoassay and the condition of the liver by conducting ultrasound. The doctor also gives advice on childbirth and pregnancy. If an ailment is detected in a woman, it is necessary to undergo an HBsAg test for her partner, as well as all family members.

"The hepatitis B virus is quite resistant to high and low temperatures, for example, at + 30⁰C, it retains its infectious activity for up to six months."

Acute hepatitis B is especially dangerous in pregnant women, as there is a very heavy load on the liver. When infected during this period, the disease develops very quickly, which is fraught with complications, therefore, a visit to a hepatologist is a prerequisite for a positive analysis. The chronic form of the disease rarely manifests itself as exacerbations during pregnancy, its danger is only in the possible infection of the child.

Treatment and possible complications

Treatment for hepatitis B during pregnancy differs significantly from therapy at other times. All antiviral medications that solve the problem of this disease have a teratogenic effect, that is, they lead to the occurrence of intrauterine fetal pathologies. Therefore, the period of bearing a child postpones antiviral therapy until delivery, with the exception of situations with the appearance of inflammation in the liver, confirmed by ultrasound. During pregnancy, hepatoprotectors may be prescribed by your doctor to maintain normal liver function. Which of these drugs to use is prescribed by the attending physician, depending on the characteristics of the woman and her condition. Vitamin therapy may also be prescribed.

During this period, monitoring and control tactics are used to treat hepatitis. Therapy for ailment during pregnancy is aimed at minimizing the likelihood of complications. All women with such a virus are assigned mandatory bed rest until childbirth. Hospitalization is not required if the condition of the pregnant woman is stable. Any kind of physical activity should be significantly limited.

It is also important to follow a specific diet throughout and after pregnancy. Such nutrition is aimed at maintaining the functioning of the liver and consists in the following principles:

  • The diet lasts at least 1.5 years;
  • Meals must be fractional 5 times a day with an interval between meals of about 3 hours;
  • The daily ration should not exceed 3 kg of food, and for people who are obese or close to it - 2 kg;
  • The calorie content of the diet should not exceed 2500-3000 kcal;
  • Limiting salt intake;
  • Sufficient amount of liquid, not exceeding 3 liters;
  • Exclusion of fried, smoked and any canned foods;
  • Exclude fatty foods, it is forbidden to use pork and lamb for cooking;
  • Prohibited foods also include all legumes, mushrooms, hot spices, fresh baked goods (you can eat yesterday's bread), mushrooms, fried or hard-boiled eggs, sour cottage cheese, sweet foods, coffee;
  • Alcohol is strictly prohibited.

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