HIV, Women and Their Children
The number of women of childbearing age who are infected with HIV is increasing. A pregnant woman can pass HIV to her unborn baby if she isnt treated with HIV medications. All women who are pregnant or considering getting pregnant should be tested for HIV. If treated, their chance of passing HIV to her child can be less than 1%.
HIV and Pregnancy
About 0.2% (2 of every 1,000 women) of pregnant women are HIV positive. Of them, about 1/3 (one out of every three) will pass the virus to their baby before it is born if no treatment is given. This is because the virus can cross to the baby from the mother’s bloodstream through the placenta–as early as a woman’s 8th week of pregnancy. In addition, an HIV positive mother can pass the virus to her baby at the time of’ the baby’s birth—when there is an exchange of body fluids. It may not make a difference whether a woman delivers a baby vaginally, or by caesarean section, since in many cases the fetus may have already been infected with HIV before its birth. There are interventions and treatment options to help decrease the chance of passing HIV on to a child during pregnancy and delivery.
Frequently Asked Questions About HIV and Pregnancy
(The Body: The Complete HIV/AIDS Resource)
Can I become a mother if I'm HIV-positive?
Yes! Especially with the development and advances in HIV research and treatment, more HIV-positive women are choosing to conceive or continue with their pregnancies. HIV treatment can benefit your own health and also greatly reduce the risk of passing HIV to your infant.
Will pregnancy make my HIV disease worse?
No. Pregnancy does not affect the course of HIV disease. It will not make your HIV worse or better. During pregnancy, there's a normal drop in CD4+ cell counts that usually rebounds after birth to pre-pregnancy levels. This is normal for any woman, regardless of HIV status. However, if your CD4+ cell count falls below 200, you are at a higher risk for OIs.
Can I breastfeed my baby?
HIV is present in breast milk, and researchers estimate a 29% HIV transmissionrate from HIV-positive mothers who consistently breastfeed their children. The most recent information suggests that the risk of HIV transmission from breastfeeding is highest in the early months after birth. The US Public Health Service recommends that HIV-positive women do not breastfeed their children and recommend formula feeding.
For several reasons, formula feeding may not be an option for some women. In this situation, there are alternatives such as heat treatment of breast milk, breast milk banks, or using animal milk such as cow, goat or sheep. If formula feeding isn't an option for you, talk with a counselor, healthcare worker or nurse. They can provide information on various infant-feeding options, the risks and benefits, and guidance on selecting the best option for you and your baby. See the Resource List for information on milk banks in the U.S.
Can I take anti-HIV medicines while I'm pregnant?
Pregnant women who are HIV-positive will follow the same general guidelines for taking anti-HIV therapy as "non-pregnant" adults. Depending on a woman's HIV disease status (her viral load and CD4+ cell count), a doctor may or may not recommend starting or continuing anti-HIV therapy (typically at least three drugs). However, certain anti-HIV drugs can harm the developing baby, so they are not recommended for use during pregnancy.
How is HIV passed to the baby?
HIV can only be passed from mother to child if the mother is HIV-positive. If the father is HIV-positive and the mother is not, a baby cannot get HIV from its father. If a woman is HIV-positive, transmission can occur at three points:
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while the baby is in the uterus (intrauterine);
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during labor and delivery (when the baby is being born); or
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during breastfeeding (HIV is found in breast milk).
The most common routes of transmission are during labor and delivery and during breastfeeding.