Why Special Care?
Pregnancy can unmask or worsen liver conditions and certain therapies must be adapted for fetal safety.
Common Conditions
- Acute fatty liver of pregnancy (AFLP)
- Intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy (ICP)
- Exacerbation of viral hepatitis or autoimmune liver disease
How Should I Prepare?
- Early prenatal care with liver-panel blood tests.
- Review medication safety.
What Happens During Management?
- AFLP: prompt delivery if mother’s or fetus’s health at risk.
- ICP: ursodeoxycholic acid to reduce itching and improve bile flow.
- Viral hepatitis: continue safe antivirals (tenofovir) in HBV; avoid interferon in HCV.
What Can I Expect Afterwards?
- Most conditions resolve postpartum.
- Surveillance for recurrence in future pregnancies.
Risks & Possible Complications
- Preterm labor, fetal distress, postpartum hemorrhage
- Maternal liver failure (rare)
Follow-Up
- Liver tests each trimester.
- Postpartum evaluation to ensure resolution.
