Hepatitis C

This is a serious viral infection that can be acquired through transmission of infected blood, either through receiving an injectionor using an infected needle or through sexual intercourse and may result in long-term liver disease or liver tumors. Women who are at risk can be tested during pregnancy. Transmission from mother to baby will not occur unless there is mixing of blood at birth, thus the use of scalp clips and forceps are avoided. There is no evidence that a baby can be infected by breast milk, but babies of infected mothers will be tested at six months.