An Introduction to TB and Pregnancy

For a pregnant woman, there are greater risks (for both her and her fetus) for not treating tuberculosis (TB) than there are in administering tuberculosis treatment and medications. Treatment of tuberculosis in pregnant women should be started whenever the possibility of TB is moderate to high. Although the TB drugs used in treatment cross the placenta, they do not appear to have harmful effects on the fetus.

Infants born to women with untreated TB may be of lower birthweight than those born to women without TB, and may also be born with TB.

Testing for TB During Pregnancy

TB skin testing is considered safe throughout pregnancy. However, TB blood testing has not been evaluated for diagnosing TB infection in pregnant women.

Treatment for TB During Pregnancy

For a pregnant woman with suspected latent tuberculosis, isoniazid (INH) administered either daily or twice weekly for 9 months is the preferred regimen. Women taking INH should also take pyridoxine (vitamin B6) supplementation.

TB and Breastfeeding

Breastfeeding should not be discouraged for women being treated with the first-line tuberculosis drugs, because the concentrations of these drugs in breast milk are too small to produce toxicity in the nursing newborn. For the same reason, drugs in breast milk are not an effective treatment for latent or active tuberculosis in a nursing infant. Breastfeeding women taking INH should also take pyridoxine (vitamin B6) supplementation.