- When to get the hepatitis B vaccine
- How to treat hepatitis B in pregnancy
- Risks of hepatitis B in pregnancy
- 1. For the pregnant woman
- 2. For the baby
- How to ensure the baby will not be contaminated
- Signs and symptoms of hepatitis B in pregnancy
Hepatitis B in pregnancy can be dangerous, especially for the baby, as there is a high risk of the pregnant woman infecting the baby at the time of delivery.
However, contamination can be avoided if a woman gets a hepatitis B vaccine before becoming pregnant, or after the second trimester of pregnancy. In addition, in the first 12 hours after birth, the baby must have the vaccine and immunoglobulin injections to fight the virus and thus not develop hepatitis B.
Hepatitis B during pregnancy can be diagnosed through an HbsAg and anti-HBc blood test, which are part of mandatory prenatal care. After confirming that the pregnant woman is infected, she should consult a hepatologist to indicate the appropriate treatment, which can be done only with rest and diet or with proper remedies for the liver, depending on the severity and stage of the disease.
When to get the hepatitis B vaccine
All women who have not had the hepatitis B vaccine and who are at risk of developing the disease should get the vaccine before becoming pregnant to protect themselves and the baby.
Pregnant women who have never had the vaccine or who have an incomplete schedule, can take this vaccine during pregnancy, from 13 weeks of gestation, as it is safe.
Learn more about the hepatitis B vaccine.
How to treat hepatitis B in pregnancy
Treatment of acute hepatitis B in pregnancy includes rest, hydration and a low-fat diet, which help the liver to recover. To prevent contamination of the baby, the doctor may suggest vaccines and immunoglobulins.
In the case of chronic hepatitis B in pregnancy, even if the pregnant woman does not have any symptoms, the doctor may prescribe the use of some doses of an antiviral known as Lamivudine to reduce the risk of contamination of the baby.
Along with Lamivudine, the doctor may also prescribe immunoglobulin injections for the pregnant woman to take in the last months of pregnancy, to decrease the viral load in the blood and thus decrease the risk of infecting the baby. However, this decision is made by the hepatologist, who is the specialist who must indicate the best treatment.
Risks of hepatitis B in pregnancy
The risks of hepatitis B in pregnancy can occur for both the pregnant woman and the baby:
1. For the pregnant woman
The pregnant woman, when she does not undergo the treatment against hepatitis B and does not follow the guidelines of the hepatologist, can develop serious liver diseases, such as liver cirrhosis or liver cancer, suffering damage that can be irreversible.
2. For the baby
Hepatitis B in pregnancy is usually transmitted to the baby at the time of delivery, through contact with the mother's blood, and in rarer cases, it is also possible to have contamination through the placenta. Therefore, shortly after birth, the baby should receive a dose of the hepatitis B vaccine and an injection of immunoglobulin within 12 hours after delivery and two more doses of the vaccine in the 1st and 6th months of life.
Breastfeeding can be done normally, as the hepatitis B virus does not pass through breast milk. Learn more about breastfeeding.
How to ensure the baby will not be contaminated
To ensure that the baby, the child of a mother with acute or chronic hepatitis B, is not contaminated, it is recommended that the mother follow the treatment proposed by the doctor and that the baby, immediately after birth, get the hepatitis B vaccine and injections of specific immunoglobulin against hepatitis B.
About 95% of babies who are treated this way at birth are not infected with the hepatitis B virus.
Signs and symptoms of hepatitis B in pregnancy
Signs and symptoms of acute hepatitis B in pregnancy include:
- Yellow skin and eyes; Nausea; Vomiting; Tiredness; Pain in the abdomen, especially in the upper right, where the liver is located; Fever; Lack of appetite; Light stools, like putty; Dark urine, like the color of cola.
In chronic hepatitis B, the pregnant woman usually has no symptoms, although this situation also has risks for the baby.
Learn all about hepatitis B.
