Mother-to-Baby Transmission
- Five to ten per cent of all hepatitis C-positive cases are due to infected
mothers. A mother with hepatitis C could infect her baby during pregnancy
or birth
- The risk of transmission is greater in women with high levels of the virus in the blood or who are also infected with HIV
- Women infected with hepatitis C may safely breastfeed their babies; however, if the nipples are bleeding or cracked, it is recommended that breastfeeding be suspended until nipples are healed.
To ensure that breastfeeding is protected, Peel Health recommends that instead of suspending breastfeeding, women should pump and dump their breast milk until the nipples have healed.
- Call Peel Health at (905) 799-7700 and ask to speak with a breastfeeding nurse for more information about hepatitis C and breastfeeding. You can also check out the links page for more information on hepatitis C and pregnancy
