How to ensure your baby is safe from HIV during pregnancy?

Question

Hello doctor,

I am asking this for a friend. She is 28 years old, has a lot on her mind with pregnancy, and we have been wondering about HIV.

1. How does it affect things, especially now that she is in week 9?

2. Are there extra precautions we should be taking?

3. Can you break down how HIV or AIDS management works during pregnancy?

4. What steps can we take to keep both mom and baby healthy?

5. If there is a positive diagnosis, how does it impact the pregnancy journey, and what can we do about it?

6. Are there specific medicines or routines we need to follow?

7. How common is this situation, and what's the success rate of managing HIV or AIDS during pregnancy?

Just trying to make sure we are doing what is best for the little one. Kindly advice.

Answer 1

Hello,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

I read your query and understand your concern.

If you have HIV (human immunodeficiency virus), getting treatment before and during pregnancy can usually prevent infection in your baby. If you take HIV medicines throughout pregnancy, labor, and birth and give your baby HIV medicines for four to six weeks after birth, the risk of passing HIV to your baby can be 1 in 100 (1 percent) or less. During pregnancy, HIV can pass through the placenta and infect the fetus. During labor and delivery, the baby may be exposed to HIV in your blood and other fluids. During breastfeeding, breast milk can transmit the virus to the baby. You and your obstetrician-gynecologist (ob-gyn) should discuss what you can do to reduce the risk of passing HIV to your baby. Some options are:

1. Take a combination of anti-HIV medications during your pregnancy.

2. Take anti-HIV medications during labor and delivery as needed.

3. Give anti-HIV medication to your baby after birth.

4. Have a cesarean birth if laboratory tests show that your level of HIV is high.

5. Do not breastfeed.

I hope I have cleared all your doubts.

Thank you.