Birth
Hepatitis C is a virus that attacks the liver and can cause serious health problems. The virus is primarily transmitted through blood-to-blood contact, such as sharing needles or being exposed to infected blood. However, it can also be passed from mother to child during delivery.
There are two ways that a baby can contract hepatitis C from their mother during birth: vertically, which means it can be transmitted directly from the mother to the baby or horizontally, which relates to the exposure to infected blood in the birth canal. Vertical transmission is thought to account for approximately 90% of cases, while horizontal transmission accounts for the remaining 10%.
It’s important to note that not all pregnant women with hepatitis C will pass the virus on to their babies. In fact, studies have shown that the risk of vertical transmission is relatively low; around 5% of babies born to mothers with hepatitis C will themselves test positive for the virus.
However, for those babies who do contract hepatitis C from their mothers, the consequences can be serious. Infants born with hepatitis C are at risk for several health problems, including liver damage, liver cancer, and death.
