Dear Denise, personal communication that I had with a hepatologist at UCLA last year when I had a pregnant patient with hep C antibodies revealed a quote of less that 2 percent risk of transmitting hep C infection by breastfeeding. Apparently, alot more load of the virus is necessary ( as compared with HIV) that what can be transmitted thru breastmilk to really infect the baby. The hepatologist was very encouraging about breastfeeding. Unfortunately, I have no literature on this at hand, as usual I am at home. I would definitely inform the woman about this risk, however. -Anne Eglash