What should you know about hepatitis C and pregnancy?

Hepatitis C does not always cause noticeable symptoms during pregnancy. Fatigue, nausea and appetite changes can overlap with normal pregnancy experiences, so symptoms cannot establish whether infection is active or whether the liver is affected.

Your maternity team and the clinician managing hepatitis C may review liver health, previous results and any medicines. Tell them about prescribed drugs, over-the-counter products and supplements before starting, stopping or changing anything.

Book a GP Consultation or inform your maternity team if you have hepatitis C, a previous positive test or a possible exposure. Ask how current infection will be confirmed and how your baby will be followed after birth.

Keep antenatal appointments and use only treatments agreed by your care team. A Liver Function Test may be part of liver monitoring, but the result needs to be interpreted with your pregnancy history and other tests.

Seek urgent help for severe abdominal pain, heavy bleeding, fainting, vomiting blood, black stools, severe confusion or yellow skin with marked illness. Contact your maternity team promptly if vomiting prevents fluids or if you feel suddenly much more unwell.

Ask which medicines are suitable now, who will coordinate your care, what liver monitoring is planned, and when your baby should have follow-up testing.