Mother has hepatitis B virus, can breastfeed?

The article was professionally consulted by Dr. Mang Thi Phuong Mai - Department of Medical Examination & Internal Medicine - Vinmec Nha Trang International General Hospital

Mothers infected with hepatitis B virus can breastfeed if the newborn is fully vaccinated, which eliminates the risk of transmission through breast milk, and avoids direct contact with the mother's serum secretions.

Currently, about 10-13% of pregnant women are infected with hepatitis B virus, the chance of mother-to-child transmission is 90% if the baby is not protected after birth.
The main route of transmission is when the fetus passes through the vagina.. Children are infected with hepatitis B virus from their mothers, increasing the rate of liver cancer and cirrhosis later on. Breastfed babies after birth only about 3 - 10% cross the placenta. If the mother is infected in the first 3 months of pregnancy, the mother-to-child disease rate is 1%. If the mother is infected in the second trimester of pregnancy, the rate of transmission from mother to child is 10%. If the mother is infected in the last 3 months of pregnancy, the rate of transmission from mother to child is 67%.

Mothers can still breastfeed if immediately after birth the baby is vaccinated with specific serum against hepatitis B virus 100 units, then the baby will be vaccinated against hepatitis B according to the 3-dose formula applied to infants. giving birth (immediately after giving birth, 2nd month after birth, 3rd month after birth). Getting vaccinated against hepatitis B also helps prevent HBV infection from all other routes of infection. The chance of protecting children from hepatitis B infection is 90%.
During breastfeeding, if the mother has hepatitis B and has diseases such as cracked breasts, bleeding or breast damage, she should not breastfeed directly because that way the baby may be in direct contact with the fluid. maternal serum secretion. Milk should be expressed and processed (boiled or water-bathed) before feeding.

At the first antenatal visit of pregnancy, a serum HBsAg test should be performed in the pregnant woman. If the mother is infected with hepatitis B virus, additional testing should be done to assess the extent of the disease and will have a plan to advise on prevention of mother-to-child transmission when needed.
For women who are not infected with hepatitis B virus, they should be vaccinated in the serum before or can be vaccinated during pregnancy.
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