I got married 2 years ago. My husband is suffering from Hepatitis C since 3 years and his liver is infected now. So far we never had unprotected sex but I want to have a baby now. Kindly let me know if I can get pregnant. If so, will my baby be affected?
Hepatitis C infection can cause damage to the liver in the long-term, that is, after 20–30 years from the time of infection. However, the human body can fight the infection if treated with appropriate drugs in the initial acute stage of the infection. Secondly, the hepatitis C virus is not very frequently transmitted through vaginal sexual intercourse. If you wish to conceive ensure that you engage in unprotected intercourse with your partner between the 12th and 18th day of your menstrual cycle, if you have a regular 28- or 30-day menstrual cycle. The first day of your period is counted as the first day of your menstrual cycle.
Also note that the recommendation is that long-term partners who are in a committed relationship and have no other partners can safely indulge in unprotected intercourse with minimal risk of being infected.
After you become pregnant, ensure that you have yourself tested for hepatitis C virus infection. After birth of the child, even if the child tests positive for hepatitis C infection, it should be remembered that babies can rid themselves of this infection within the first year of life.
I suggest that you discuss all these details and issues with a reliable and trained specialist gynecologist in your area who can guide you further and provide further assistance as required.
My husband is diabetic. I am 4 months pregnant. I would like to know if my baby will be affected?
Before we can provide more accurate information for your query, we would like to know which type of diabetes your husband has. The hereditary factors between type I and type II diabetes are slightly different. The onset of diabetes is attributed to both an inherited risk and external triggers such as diet or an infection. Environmental factors such as food intake and exercise play an important role in determining the risk of developing diabetes. The risk of developing diabetes also increases when both the parents are diabetic.
However, don’t worry about the fact that your husband is diabetic does not imply that your children will necessarily have it too.
My wife is 13 weeks pregnant. On a routine check her oral glucose tolerance level was found to be 178 mg/dL, one hour after the intake of 50 gm glucose, which is higher than the normal range. However, when the test was repeated the result came down to a normal level of 121 mg/dL, 2 hours post 75 gm glucose intake. Her fasting glucose level is 121 mg/dL (normal). Does she have diabetes?
Though the oral glucose tolerance test has not had definitive results, it appears that your wife has some impairment in glucose absorption and utilization. Her fasting glucose levels are indicative of deranged glucose metabolism in the body, and this could be an indication that she is developing gestational diabetes. Gestational diabetes is a condition where a woman develops diabetes during pregnancy, and she usually recovers to the non-diabetic state once the pregnancy is over. You will need to discuss this matter with your wife’s gynecologist and will need to have the glucose tolerance test repeated.
If your wife has gestational diabetes, she will be instructed to follow special routines and regimens during pregnancy and will need regular medical attention. Do remember that gestational diabetes is a temporary state, and it will resolve with the completion of pregnancy.
I lost my baby after 36 weeks due to less liquor (amniotic fluid). My doctor has advised me to have Corion 5000 injection for 8 times during 8th week of pregnancy this time. How will it help?
Corion is human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) which is an enzyme and is used for a variety of indications. HCG is used in the injectable form as well as in the gel form to enhance ovulation and chances of conception. If the doctor you consulted has advised to continue with injections of HCG, it is likely that the underlying problem could be related to inadequate secretion of the hormones required to continue pregnancy. However, ensure that your do not continue the injections during pregnancy, as HCG is contraindicated for use during pregnancy due to its potential to cause fetal malformations.
I am 7 weeks pregnant. My baby’s heartbeat is not seen in the ultrasound test yet. I already had two abortions because of the same problem. What should I do?
Fetal heartbeat is usually detected by 6 to 7 weeks of pregnancy. In some cases, an ultrasound may not be able to detect the heartbeat at this point but it does not necessarily indicate any complication. It could be due to various reasons—tipped uterus, larger abdomen or inaccurate dating with last menstrual period. We would suggest you to consult your doctor at the earliest to rule out any underlying problem.
I am 3 months pregnant. Is it safe to take cold and cough medicine during pregnancy?
You need to avoid as many non-essential medicines as possible during pregnancy. Most ingredients in cold and cough medicines have been found to be safe. However these products often contain many ingredients, including painkillers, antihistamines and decongestants, so it is necessary to make sure that each ingredient is safe before taking them. Do consult your doctor before taking any of these medicines during pregnancy.