Hepatitis in pregnancy. ACOG Technical Bulletin Number 174--November 1992.

Hepatitis A is an uncommon complication of pregnancy and is not associated with perinatal transmission. In contrast, hepatitis B virus infection is more common and clearly poses a serious risk to the household contacts and neonates of infected mothers. Accordingly, all pregnant women should be tested for hepatitis B virus. Universal vaccination of all neonates with hepatitis B vaccine is now recommended. Infants delivered to seropositive mothers also should receive HBIG immediately after birth. The enteric form of NANBH is extremely rare in the United States. Perinatal transmission does not occur. In contrast, hepatitis C, which is transmitted parenterally and by sexual contact, has been associated with vertical transmission. No immunoprophylaxis is presently available for neonates of mothers with hepatitis C virus. Immunization against hepatitis B is also protective against vertical transmission of hepatitis D.