Hep C Discussion Forum

Wenman · Newbie

RE: Pregnancy after treatment?

AngieV123 · Senior Member

Hello and congrats. I was also told I was cured when I was around 20 and I never got tested until last year because I ran with the whole idea that I was undetected. I have had two kids since then. I found out last year that I still have hcv and probably had it this entire time. Both of my kids tested negative.

Tig · Admin

Hello,

There are so many different explanations regarding levels and what denotes detectable or undetectable, it can be confusing. Here is a link to an explanation that should explain it for you in todays newer terms. My wife and I had children during the time I was well into my chronic phase of the disease. She gave birth to a perfectly normal child. I've got many friends and acquaintances (male and female) that were HCV positive before, during and after pregnancy and never had a problem. The placental barrier is near impossible to cross! So relax, get retested to put your mind at ease and enjoy the wonders of parenthood!

http://www.hepatitiscentral.com/hepatitis-c/what-is-viral-load.html

Best, Tig

Wenman · Newbie

Hi. I've been reading more and thinking. My gastro told me that my result was less than 50 virus per ML. Not 50iu/ml. I remember this very clearly as I was skeptical and worried and I was in nursing school at the time taking a microbiology course. So that old be lesss than 5iu/Ml right? I remember we talked about the size of an ml and having only 50 viruses in that big ole cubic centimeter or ML.

Wenman · Newbie

Thanks Jill. That's what I'm going to try to do. I would be so devastated if I had it again. I was doing some research after I got home from the midwifes office and I see the new tests are much more sensitive. However, all that's going through my head is my dr. Saying a year after I stopped treatment "if it were going to come back you would have more than 50 virus per ml a year later. This is a fast replicating virus". I hope he was right!! But, I will get tested. I know I should.

just thought this was all behind me. Still would love to hear other peoples experiences. I can't say how much I appreciate your response Jill. And I'm an RN. Blah. Too much education makes me a hypochondriac. Boo

Cinnamon Girl · Guru

Hi Bea, welcome to the forum, I`m glad you found us.

First of all, congratulations on your recent marriage and pregnancy! I`m quite sure you haven`t make the wrong decision and to be honest I can`t understand why your midwife is so concerned about the risk. It`s perfectly acceptable to start a family once the drugs are out of your system and by the sounds of it your treatment was successful and you cleared the virus. It`s probably a good idea to have another test done, just to be sure though and to put your mind at rest, that`s the only way to be certain. The viral load tests used nowadays are much more accurate and are able to detect a much lower quantity of virus than when you were last tested

Even if it does turn out that you do have an active infection the risk of passing it on to your unborn child is extremely low, so try not to worry, and just take it step at a time.

Wishing you all the best, relax and enjoy this special time in your married life! smile ~ Jill

Wenman · Newbie

I'm 10 years post treatMent. my viral load was less than 50 12 months after treatment and my dr. Said I was cured. Haven't really thought much of it since (really it's always in the back of my mind but not enough to bother me). I had type 3 which is "easy" to treat. My initial viral loaf was only 300k and I was 20 years old and healthy. Anyways, I was recently married and we asked an ob gyn who only saw us once about getting pregnant and she said it would be fine but she was no longer delivering babies so I would have to find someone else once pregnant. So here I am 7 weeks pregnant and I met with a midwife today. She was concerned about my history of hepatitis c and said she would have to meet with a few dr.s to find out if I was low risk enough to be seen by a midwife. Now I'm worried sick thinking I've made the wrong decision to get pregnant and maybe the virus has come back. Can anyone share their experiences with relapse or lack there of, and/or starting a family after SVR is achieved? Anyone have any thoughts? I'm paranoid to be afraid of a viral load test aren't i?

Hep C Discussion Forum

Legal Disclaimer: