Hep C+ mom, bloody amniotic fluid, chances for baby?

Specialties Ob/Gyn

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We had a mom who was hep C+. I know statistically the chances of transmission to the baby are very low. This mom, however, apparently had a small abruption in her pregnancy. The amniotic fluid was dark red/wine colored with some old clots and meconium. After birth baby was quite moist. Several times she needed bulb suctioning of red fluid out of her.

Since she was exposed for days directly to blood, not filtered to the placenta, any idea what her chances of transmission are?

I really liked the couple and the baby. It makes me sad thinking the baby might get hep C. I will probably never see them again or hear the results. I suppose the abruption could have been just placental blood, which would be the baby's and would be OK. I think it's usually Mom's blood too.

What do you think?

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Specializes in NICU, Post-partum.

It is a risk that people who are Hep C positive and HIV take when they choose to have a baby.

Personally, I couldn't do it.

Time will tell.

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Specializes in Community, OB, Nursery.

Considering that moms who have HepC can breastfeed (most of ours do not), I would honestly not spend a lot of time worrying about it. That's my :twocents: (I understand getting attached to a family, just saying transmission is kind of a crapshoot and there's not a lot anyone can do about it.) I'd be willing to bet that blood you saw was at least partly Mom's. We get bunches of babies that spit up old blood that they swallowed on the way out.

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Specializes in Hospice / Psych / RNAC.

The last stats I saw concerning the infant and transmission during live lady partsl birth and hepC was a 0.5% chance. The clots mean nothing whether there are hers or not when discussing the transmission of of hepC due to one must have an open cut/open skin in order for transmission of the virus that way. Do babies have open areas of their bodies at birth? I don't think so ... also I know the staff must save the cord to test the blood.

After the mom takes her child in for the test one at 1 month and then at 6 months to see if transmission took place. It is extremely rare in any case.

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Very rare. Also, food for thought...most babies and young children who catch hep c clear the virus spontaneously (bout 85%) So even if the baby were to get it, the odds are in her favor that she could clear the virus.

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The last stats I saw concerning the infant and transmission during live lady partsl birth and hepC was a 0.5% chance. The clots mean nothing whether there are hers or not when discussing the transmission of of hepC due to one must have an open cut/open skin in order for transmission of the virus that way. Do babies have open areas of their bodies at birth? I don't think so ...

Babies don't have open cuts, but they "breathe" the amniotic fluid into their lungs, they swallow it, it's touching the mucus membranes of their eyes and nose. I just hope the baby will be OK. One of the hard things about being a hospital nurse is that I will probably never know.

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Specializes in L&D.
Very rare. Also, food for thought...most babies and young children who catch hep c clear the virus spontaneously (bout 85%) So even if the baby were to get it, the odds are in her favor that she could clear the virus.

This is true. The rate of vertical transmission is very low, does not increase with breastfeeding, and the virus does spontaneously clear in many children who have acquired it from their mothers. Also, for those that do not clear the virus, the response to antiviral therapy is much better and without the side effect profile in younger pts (not adults with abused livers!).

Most children that are Hep C+ are asymptomatic and live happy, healthy lives. As Hep C becomes more prevelant amongst child-bearing women, this is important to remember, even if rates of transmission are low.

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This is true. The rate of vertical transmission is very low, does not increase with breastfeeding, and the virus does spontaneously clear in many children who have acquired it from their mothers. Also, for those that do not clear the virus, the response to antiviral therapy is much better and without the side effect profile in younger pts (not adults with abused livers!).

Most children that are Hep C+ are asymptomatic and live happy, healthy lives. As Hep C becomes more prevelant amongst child-bearing women, this is important to remember, even if rates of transmission are low.

That makes me feel much better!

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