HIV/AIDS During Pregnancy
If you are infected with HIV/AIDS and are currently pregnant, you probably ask yourself, "Is my child going to be ok?" Well, you are not alone. According to AmericanPregnancy.org, there are roughly 6,000 to 7,000 children born from HIV positive mothers. The first step is to get a check up. This is important whether you feel you are at risk or not. Blood work can determine if you are, in fact, HIV positive along with determining the presence of other blood borne pathogens. If you tested positive, you may be wondering next what the likelihood of giving birth to a healthy child is.
Before we get into percentages, we have to understand exactly when you may have contracted HIV. If you were diagnosed with the virus prior to becoming pregnant, the chances of having a healthy baby are better than if you became infected at the same time. Semen carries HIV, so any egg fertilized by infected semen will automatically become HIV positive as well. If you already had HIV, then there is only a small chance that the baby will be infected with HIV while in the womb. As a matter of fact, the placenta can often act as a barrier against the virus, however, it is not guaranteed and it also has to do with the health of the mother. The key is to try to be as healthy as possible. Smoking, substance abuse, Vitamin A deficiency, malnutrition, and the stage of current HIV all play a factor in transmitting HIV to a child.
There is roughly a 20% chance that your child will become infected with HIV if you are a carrier and do not receive treatment. That percentage goes higher if the placenta is damaged at any point or the child is exposed to blood or fluids during labor. There is, however, a silver lining! They have treatments that can improve your chances of delivering a healthy baby to 98% or better! The key is early detection, early treatment, and continued monitoring of your state of health. Zidovudine (also known as ZDV, AZT and Retrovir®) was the first drug licensed to treat HIV. Now it is used in combination with other anti-HIV drugs and is often used to prevent perinatal transmission of HIV. This treatment usually starts in the second trimester (week 13 of pregnancy). Also, Cesarean sections prior to labor are known ways to reduce the chances a baby becomes infected.
After giving birth, know that even your breast milk can potentially lead to transmission of the virus. The longer your breastfeed, the more likely a child will become infected. Your immune status, your breast health, and whether or not you use formula also plays a role in the chance of transmission. If you choose to breast feed, it is recommended that you do so exclusively for 6 months. If you choose to use formula, make sure you consult your physician about the effective use of formulas.
Finding out that you have HIV can be a very difficult time in your life, but there is no reason for it to rule your life. You can still have a family as long as you exercise good judgment and do your best to ensure that you and your child are safe. March of Dimes has very good information on their web page regarding this subject, as well as AmericanPregnancy.