Hepatitis A During Pregnancy: How It Affects Your Baby

Hepatitis A during pregnancy is a viral liver infection caused by contaminated food or water, and it can increase the risk of preterm labour and, in rare cases, pass to the newborn. The hepatitis A virus (HAV) spreads through the faecal-oral route, most often from unsafe drinking water, unwashed vegetables, or food handled without proper hygiene. A 2021 ICMR serosurvey found that nearly four in five people aged 6 to 30 years had prior exposure to the virus. Pregnant women who have not been previously exposed remain susceptible, particularly in urban areas with improved sanitation, where natural immunity from childhood exposure is now less common.