Q: Hello Dr. I have a friend who is pregnant after registering for ANC she find out that she is HIV positive. What can she do?

A: Being pregnant is an amazing experience, HIV or not. In fact, finding out early about the infection helps, so that the virus is not transmitted to the baby. If the mother is already on anti-retroviral drugs (drugs used to treat HIV), then she needs to let her doctor know which ones she’s taking as they may need to be changed or dosage adjusted. If she hasn’t been taking any, then she will be put on some. The whole aim of this is to reduce the load of the virus and also, because some of the drug passes through the placenta, the baby is safer.

The baby is most at risk during 3 points: pregnancy, delivery and breast feeding. Of all these, mother to child transmission poses the least risk. The greatest risk is during delivery as baby is exposed to mother’s blood and body fluids. The risk of this is significantly reduced with an elective (planned) Caesarian Section. Breast feeding is not advocated as the baby may be infected via this route. Formula feeds will have to suffice here.

The risk of mother to child transmission is increased when the mother has other co-existing sexually transmitted infections, vaginal delivery, pre-term birth, HIV infection occurring for the first time during pregnancy etc.

Please advise your friend to register for antenatal (pre-natal) care in a center that has the facility to look after and anticipate the needs of HIV positive pregnant women and their babies.

If she plans to get pregnant again, there are also options even if her husband is also HIV positive. Invitro fertilization, sperm washing to remove infected cells etc are examples of options that the doctor could proffer.

So, all hope is not lost!

Have a great weekend, people 😀

Here’s to a healthier you!