Q:
I found I was HIV-positive in my second trimester. Is it possible that I can have a healthy pregnancy?
A:
HIV is a virus that causes AIDS. If you are HIV-positive, you have AIDS, otherwise, you don’t.
HIV-positive women who are pregnant can do something to prevent their babies from being infected with HIV.
HIV is spread through human blood and other bodily fluids, including breast milk, semen and vaginal fluid. Pregnancy, labor and delivery, and breastfeeding all pose a risk of HIV transmission to the baby. The risk can be reduced to 1% only if you get appropriate treatment during your pregnancy. To achieve this, you need to:
- Take HIV medications (prescribed by your doctor).
- Have a caesarean delivery if your viral load (the amount of HIV in your blood) reach a dangerous level at the final stage of pregnancy.
- Don’t breastfeed your baby or prechew his food.
- Let your baby get antiretroviral treatment before you know for sure that he’s HIV negative.
Keywords: aid women; aids virus
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