I've had the virus when my daughter was born. I've had it over 40 years. I didn't discover I had until after my granddaughter was born 3 years ago. I told my daughter to get tested right away. She got tested and she didn't have it.

I think there's only a 5% chance of passing it on to your children. IMHO and for your peace of mind, you should get them tested.

Well I'm defiantly not a mother :-) but the day I found out I had it, within 30 seconds of getting off the phone with my Dr., I called my ex to let her know her and the kids were getting tested asap. My kids are both teens, they were all negative thank God. It's piece of mind.

I suggested my adult children be tested.
Its not just about birth canal, but living together when you don't know you have it. Kids experiment with razors & such & I had no reason to be paranoid.
They chose not to be tested.

Yep, that's exactly what was going through my mind. All the times I put a band-aid on a scrapped knee, or dinged up my knuckles working on something out in the garage with the kids, not knowing if they used my razor or tooth brush etc...

I have tested my daughter when a baby and recently and she is much much older. she is clear and i have done some risky things. Once i pulled her tooth after having picked at a hang nail that bled a little and that worried me. Sometimes she puts her toothbrush touching mine and she is fine. My husband has done everything risky with me he should not have done including use my razors and he is Hep C negative. Same with a step daughter of mine always using my razors and she is fine.

I am not saying you should do those things. but i once had a doctor tell me some people are carriers but not transmitters. I don't know if that is really true though. but he thought it may apply to me.

When I was Dx'd I had the whole family tested.

I had my adult children all tested when I learned of my diagnosis and at least we can all relax after hearing that they were all negative. I had intrauterine transfusions with the last 2 children so wanted to be safe.

My family members have been tested and Thank God none of them have it. Better to be safe than sorry.

I've had the virus for over 40 years. When detected 10 years ago, my 1 st question to my Dr. was " what about my husband and son". He told me they could not have the disease. My Dr. Is head of liver transplants

I found out out I had hep c in 98 when I was pregnant with my second child. I had a third child after that and breastfed all 3 of my girls. I remember the pediatrician at the hospital was angry at me for deciding to breastfeed. Even though the risk was less than 1% she felt the risk was still there.... I didnt care what she said....the benefits outweigh the risk to me.... I had my girls tested right away and every year for like 5 years. I still check them randomly untill I get rid of this disease just cuz we all live together...

I had my kids tested, they were 15, 13 and 10 at the time. It was hard watching them take blood from my daughter, my youngest but such a relief knowing they don't have it. I breastfed my kids too and that was my biggest concern since one was a biter. They had lead testing too which i think is completely unnecessary but my daughter now donates blood on a regular basis. It's possible for anyone who comes into contact to get it but not very probable. I feel better knowing. Like 4hens said for your peace of mind.

My kids were in their 20s when I was diagnosed. Since neither had ever had any elevated liver counts on blood tests I never suggested that they be checked,

I am going to get my 4 year old Daughter tested as soon as my husband gets home from deployment, I may do it sooner. my main prayer is that she does NOT have it. he tested negative *whew* and I hear its about a 5% chance, higher if you have HIV as well to pass form mother to child. I know exactly how you feel, if she has it I will feel horrible. Its so encouraging to hear all these people who have had it and had children without passing it! Good post.

My kids were 8 and 6 when I was diagnosed 20 years ago. They told me then "virtually impossible" to transmit to child in birthing or to transmit in normal living activites. Well of course now we know it isn't "virtually impossible", it does happen. Ask yourself are you better off knowing one way or another? Would you treat your young child or teenager? would you sleep better and feel better if you knew they were negative? Our oldest was never tested, our youngest was when she had symptoms of a stressed liver (she is negative) It would have crushed me to learn I had passed this to my children.. I suspect it will crush you too.
peace and love and hugs

i did get both of my boys tested. they are 21/2 and 5. i waited until they were each two years old, because babies carry our antibodies and i wanted a true hcv blood test after my antibodies were out of their systems.
i think its a good idea, gave me peace of mind to find out they were both okay. i wanted to know just in case one of them had it bc that would give me reason to keep up on trials and research regarding the disease and children. i have met a couple people on here and through other sites that contracted hcv from their mother. its rare, but it does happen.
good luck