The main reason why many people find out that they have hepatitis C only after they are pregnant is because they have not been tested for hepatitis C before that time. Another possibility is that hepatitis C has been monitored recently but not detected, and it is detected only after pregnancy because hepatitis C antibodies are slow to appear, and it takes about six months or even a year before a positive antibody is detected. Hepatitis C is caused by a viral infection that can be contracted through the bloodstream, as well as through broken skin and mucous membranes. Hepatitis C is diagnosed through blood tests, and the diagnosis can be confirmed if hepatitis C antibodies are detected. Hepatitis C is used as a routine test during pregnancy to guide the mode of delivery, and once a person with hepatitis C has been identified, a cesarean section may be needed to terminate the pregnancy and avoid a birth canal infection during vaginal delivery.