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Hepatitis B

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Hepatitis B

  • Hepatitis B Home
  • Hepatitis B Basics
  • Hepatitis B Statistics
  • Perinatal Hepatitis B
  • For Health Professionals

Related Topics

  • Hepatitis Home
  • Immunization
  • STDs
  • Foodborne Illness
  • Infectious Diseases A-Z
  • Reportable Infectious Diseases
Contact Info
Infectious Disease Epidemiology, Prevention and Control Division
651-201-5414
IDEPC Comment Form

Contact Info

Infectious Disease Epidemiology, Prevention and Control Division
651-201-5414
IDEPC Comment Form

Hepatitis B Information for Pregnant Persons

PDF version formatted for print: Hepatitis B Information for Pregnant Persons (PDF)

  • Hepatitis B Information for Pregnant Persons in Amharic (PDF)
  • Hepatitis B Information for Pregnant Persons in Chinese (PDF)
  • Hepatitis B Information for Pregnant Persons in French (PDF)
  • Hepatitis B Information for Pregnant Persons in Hmong (PDF)
  • Hepatitis B Information for Pregnant Persons in Karen (PDF)
  • Hepatitis B Information for Pregnant Persons in Khmer (PDF)
  • Hepatitis B Information for Pregnant Persons in Oromo (PDF)
  • Hepatitis B Information for Pregnant Persons in Somali (PDF)
  • Hepatitis B Information for Pregnant Persons in Vietnamese (PDF)

What is hepatitis B?

  • Hepatitis B is a liver disease caused by a virus. For many people who get hepatitis B, the virus stays in the body, causing a lifelong illness.
  • Hepatitis B can cause serious health problems over time, including liver damage, liver failure, and liver cancer.
  • Most people who have hepatitis B have no symptoms and may not know they have it, but they can still pass it to others.
  • Pregnant people should be tested for hepatitis B during every pregnancy.

Why should pregnant persons get tested?

  • If a pregnant person tests positive for hepatitis B, their baby must be treated at birth. Babies who get treatment when they are born rarely get hepatitis B.
  • When babies become infected with hepatitis B they are very likely to develop a lifelong infection.

What should you do if you have hepatitis B and are pregnant?

  • See your health care provider to discuss how to manage your hepatitis B infection.
  • There are treatments available that can reduce the risk of passing hepatitis B on to your baby.

How can you protect your baby from getting infected?

  • If you don’t know if you have hepatitis B, ask your provider to order a blood test for hepatitis B.
  • If you test negative for hepatitis B, ask your provider about hepatitis B vaccination.
  • If you test positive for hepatitis B, your baby will need treatment and follow up:
    • Your baby will receive the first dose of the vaccine series and hepatitis B immune globulin (HBIG) after birth.
    • Your baby will need to finish the hepatitis B vaccine series.
    • After the vaccine series, your doctor will draw blood to make sure your baby is protected from hepatitis B.
  • It is safe to breastfeed even if you have hepatitis B.
Tags
  • hepatitis
Last Updated: 06/18/2025

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