> Jacie writes @ adopting a newborn, birth mother has hepatitis C

The AAP 1997 Redbook has some useful information/
but it would make sense to work with an Infectious Disease
specialist in your area.

baby must be 3 months of age before they can test to
>see if the baby has it.
About 5% of babies born to HCV+ moms will aqcuire the
infection.  Testing date is not very well established -
maternal antibodies may last up to 1 year. As of
the 1997 pub date, the more sensistive PCR testing
which locates virus rather than antibodies
wasn't being done on babies - but you may
find an Infectious Disease specialist to identify
the virus RNA earlier than that.


 Our question is, if the baby has hepatitis C and
>the adoptive mother breastfeeds, can the adoptive mother get hepatitis C
>from the newborn?

HCV not a contraindication to BF - but this is more
focused on mom to baby risks. HCV has been identified
in colostrum, theoretically could transmit, but no cases
have been documented.  A mom with cracked nipples
would have a portal of entry if baby has HCV in its
mouth, eg cutting a tooth, has an infection that
makes it bleed.   Again, I'd talk with a ID specialist
for the latest info.

Marcia Schneider PNP