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Protect Your Baby for Life

When a Pregnant Woman has Hepatitis B

If you are pregnant and have hepatitis B, your baby can get a set of shots starting at 

birth to prevent infection.

What is hepatitis B? 

Hepatitis B is a serious liver infection caused by the hepatitis 

B virus. When babies become infected with hepatitis B, they 

have about a 90% chance of developing a lifelong, chronic 

infection. Left untreated, about 1 in 4 children who have 

chronic hepatitis B will eventually die of health problems 

related to their infection, such as liver damage, liver disease, 

or liver cancer.

Hepatitis B and pregnancy 

All pregnant women should get a blood 

test for hepatitis B as part of their 

prenatal care. Hepatitis B can be easily 

passed from a pregnant woman with 

hepatitis B to her baby at birth. This can 

happen during a vaginal delivery or a 

c-section. If you have hepatitis B, health

care providers can give your baby a set

of shots at birth to prevent your baby

from getting infected.

Test and vaccinate your family 

The hepatitis B virus is very infectious and can also spread to 

other family members through contact with blood, semen or 

other body fluids from an infected person. Your baby’s father 

and everyone else who lives in your house should go to the 

doctor or clinic to be tested. Family members who do not have 

hepatitis B can get the hepatitis B vaccine to protect them 

from getting infected. 

Protect your baby from hepatitis B 

Your baby should get the first dose of hepatitis B 

vaccine and a shot called hepatitis B immune globulin 

(HBIG) within 12 hours of being born. HBIG is a medicine

that gives your baby’s body a “boost” or extra help to fight

the virus as soon as he or she is born. The HBIG shot is

only given to babies of mothers who have hepatitis B. The

HBIG and hepatitis B vaccine shots help prevent your baby

from getting hepatitis B. These shots work best when they

are given within 12 hours after your baby is born.

All the hepatitis B shots are necessary to help keep your

baby from getting hepatitis B. Your baby will get 3 or 4

shots in all, depending on your baby’s birth weight and

the vaccine brand. After the first shots are given in the

hospital, the next shot is usually given at 1 to 2 months of

age. The last shot is given when your baby is six months

old. Ask your doctor or nurse when your baby needs to

come back for each shot.

Make sure your baby gets tested after completing the 

series of shots. After getting all the hepatitis B shots, your

doctor will test your baby’s blood. This blood test tells you

and your doctor if your baby is protected and does not

have hepatitis B. The blood test is usually done 1 to 2

months after completing the series of shots. Your baby

should be at least 9 months of age before getting this test.

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Take care of yourself

You may need additional tests to check the health of your liver 

and see if you need treatment. Medications, called antivirals, 

can treat many people with hepatitis B. However, not everyone 

needs the treatment. Ask a doctor before taking any prescription, 

over-the-counter medications, supplements or vitamins 

because some drugs can potentially damage the liver. You 

may also benefit from the hepatitis A vaccine. Continue to see 

a doctor after giving birth to monitor your infection. 

www.cdc.gov/hepatitis

January 2020

You can breastfeed your baby if your baby gets HBIG and the 

hepatitis B vaccine within 12 hours of birth. You cannot give 

your baby hepatitis B from breast milk. Ask your doctor if you 

should still breastfeed if you have cracked nipples or open 

sores on your breast.