TB can be treated safely in pregnancy, and treating it protects both mother and baby. Children can get TB too, often from an adult at home, so checking and protecting little ones matters.
हिंदी में सार
गर्भावस्था में टीबी का इलाज संभव और ज़रूरी है; बिना इलाज की टीबी माँ और बच्चे के लिए ज़्यादा ख़तरनाक है। पहली पंक्ति की टीबी दवाइयाँ लेते हुए माँ आमतौर पर बच्चे को दूध पिला सकती है। घर में टीबी हो तो 5 साल से छोटे बच्चों की जाँच करवाएँ और बचाव का इलाज लें।
TB during pregnancy
- The CDC says untreated TB is a greater risk to a pregnant woman and her baby than TB treatment. Untreated TB can lead to low birth weight.
- First-line TB medicines cross the placenta but are not known to harm the baby.
- Some medicines, such as streptomycin, are not used in pregnancy. Always tell your doctor you are pregnant.
- For drug-resistant TB in pregnancy, regimen choices are made jointly by the obstetrician and the DR-TB centre doctor.
Never stop or change TB medicines on your own
Do not stop, skip or change your TB medicines without talking to your doctor or DOTS provider, even if you feel better. Stopping early can bring TB back and can make it drug-resistant.
Contact your health facility at once if you have:
- yellow eyes or yellow skin, or dark urine with pale stools
- any change in your eyesight, such as blurring or trouble seeing colours
- severe or repeated vomiting, or you cannot keep food down
- a skin rash, itching with swelling, or blisters
Breastfeeding
The CDC says women taking first-line TB medicines can continue breastfeeding, because the amounts in breast milk are too low to harm the baby. If you have infectious lung TB, ask your doctor about precautions such as a mask while feeding in the first weeks.
Protecting children
- Know the signs: persistent fever, cough for more than 2 weeks, weight loss or not gaining weight. See TB symptoms in children.
- Children under 5 living with a person with lung TB can get preventive treatment after active TB is ruled out, without a test for infection first.
- For a child with TB, Ni-kshay Poshan Yojana support is paid to a parent’s or guardian’s account.
TB treatment journey trackerPut in your start date to see your phases, test dates and follow-ups, with a printable dose diary.
Track my treatmentFrequently asked questions
Can I get pregnant after TB treatment?
Yes, many women do. If you had genital TB, a fertility specialist can advise. See genital TB.
Is TB passed to the baby in the womb?
Rarely. The CDC notes congenital TB is rare. Treating the mother lowers the risk.
Can a TB patient care for a newborn?
Yes, with precautions while infectious and with the baby checked by a doctor. Ask your health facility about preventive treatment for the baby.
Medical review note. Written from official TB programme guidelines; last checked 16 October 2026. This is general information, not medical advice. For diagnosis and treatment, see a doctor at your nearest government health facility.