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Hepatitis B

Pregnancy and Perinatal Issues

Pregnant women who have the hepatitis B virus can pass the virus to their baby during delivery. Without any intervention, 85-90% of the babies born to hepatitis B positive mothers will become chronically infected with the virus.

• All pregnant women should be tested for hepatitis B, which should be done at the same time as other prenatal tests.
• If a woman tests positive (has HBsAg in her blood), the newborn should receive HBIG along with the hepatitis B vaccine.

• All newborns born to a hepatitis B positive mother must receive HBIG and the first dose of the hepatitis B vaccine within 12 hours of birth
• The second dose is a given 1 month after the first dose, and the third dose is given at 6 months after the first
• The infants should be tested for immunity, upon completion of the vaccine series

NOTE: As part of routine childhood vaccinations, it is recommended that all infants be immunized against hepatitis B starting at birth, regardless of mothers hepatitis B status. However, this routine immunization series does not include the dose of HBIG.

• Women with hepatitis B can breastfeed, provided that the baby receives HBIG, and the first dose of the vaccine within 12 hours of birth, and receives the other two doses of the vaccine on schedule.