Hepatic (Liver) Conditions in Pregnancy

Learn more about pregnancy care for patients with liver disorders.

Overview

Liver disorders can lead to complications during and after pregnancy. If you have a liver condition, it is important to have specialized care.

Some liver conditions are present before pregnancy while others develop during pregnancy. Each of these conditions has specific risks to you and your baby.

Our maternal-fetal medicine (MFM) specialists are high-risk obstetricians who provide comprehensive pregnancy care for patients with liver conditions including:

Hepatitis B and C
Autoimmune hepatitis
Cirrhosis or liver failure
Portal hypertension
Intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy
Primary intrahepatic cholestasis (PFIC)
Primary biliary cholangitis
Acute fatty liver of pregnancy
Liver transplant
And many others

If you are not currently pregnant, we encourage you to talk to your family physician or specialist before planning a pregnancy.

Our care

Learn more about the specialized care provided at Mount Sinai Hospital for Medical Disorders of Pregnancy.

This content is intended for informational purposes only and is not intended to be used or relied upon for any diagnostic or treatment purposes. It does not replace the need for consultation with a health-care professional. Please speak with your health-care professional for questions about your health.

Your pregnancy care

Our MFM specialists work closely work closely with other experts to provide pregnancy care.

You will have prenatal appointments at the Medical Disorders of Pregnancy Clinic. You may also have appointments at the OB Medicine Clinic or with other specialists such as a hepatologist.

We will involve our Pediatrics team to provide testing, monitoring and treatment plans for baby as needed.

Treatment

Pregnancy care will focus on monitoring your liver function as well as the health of both you and your baby.

It is important to us that you actively participate in decision-making about your care. Our MFM specialist will work with you to decide on a care plan that is specific to your needs.

Your care plan may include any of the following:

Monitoring of your liver function with blood tests
Ultrasounds or other imaging to assess your liver function
Special tests like endoscopy or liver biopsy to better understand your diagnosis and risks
Starting or adjusting medication so it is both safe and effective during pregnancy
Placenta scans and blood tests, such as Placental Growth Factor, to monitor the health of the placenta and predict your risk of developing pre-eclampsia
Growth scans to monitor fetal growth and well-being
Referrals to other specialists, as needed
Planning for delivery

Labour and delivery

Our recommendations for your labour, and birth care may include any of the following:

Meeting with our Obstetric Anesthesia team
Scheduling an induction of labour or Caesarean section as needed
Monitoring the health of your baby during labour and after birth, if necessary
Avoiding certain procedures that may increase the risk of infection
Adjusting your medications following delivery as needed
Making a plan for your postpartum care and follow-up
Vaccinations for baby as needed

It is important to continue monitoring your liver function with your primary care provider or specialist. Depending on your condition, flares can be common in the first few months postpartum.

After the birth, our Pediatrics team or a specialist at The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids) will monitor your baby as needed.