FAQs About HIV and Pregnancy

Can I get pregnant if I’ve HIV?

Sure, you possibly can. Nevertheless it’s best to speak along with your HIV specialist earlier than you get pregnant. This may help be sure you’re at your healthiest earlier than getting pregnant, enable for any medicine changes, and assist maintain you from transmitting HIV to your child.

After all, shock pregnancies can occur, so if you happen to discover out you’re pregnant, let your healthcare supplier know as quickly as potential.

So long as you’re on medications for HIV and your viral load stays undetectable, your probabilities of transmitting HIV to your child might be less than 1%. An undetectable viral load means the quantity of HIV virus in your blood is so low {that a} lab take a look at can’t choose up the virus.

Being pregnant at age 35 or older (referred to as superior maternal age or geriatric being pregnant) comes with sure well being dangers in comparison with individuals underneath age 35 no matter your HIV standing, together with:

The analysis is restricted on those that live with HIV and are pregnant over age 35, however it’s potential that there could also be larger dangers.

Can I proceed HIV drugs whereas pregnant?

Sure, you possibly can and, in actual fact, it is best to. It’s essential to take HIV drugs whereas pregnant to assist defend each your well being and the well being of your child. This could greatly reduce the chances of transmitting HIV to your baby.

Don’t skip doses and take your drugs on the similar time day by day to maintain your viral load as little as potential.

Lots of the drugs for HIV are thought to be safe to take while you’re pregnant. However, relying on what you are taking and the way far alongside you’re in your being pregnant, your healthcare supplier may counsel you modify up among the HIV drugs you’re presently taking if you happen to do turn into pregnant. It’s essential to speak to your healthcare supplier to seek out out what the professionals and cons of the potential drugs are.

What are the dangers to the child if I’m dwelling with HIV?

Most infants who get HIV, get the virus throughout supply. For those who’re having a vaginal delivery, your healthcare supplier might provide you with drugs via an IV (intravenous) line that may decrease the probabilities of transmitting the virus to your child. In case your viral load is high, you may need a cesarean part and get IV medicine. This may help lower the chance of transmission.

HIV may also cross via the placenta and infect the child in utero. However, if you happen to proceed to take your HIV drugs as directed all through your being pregnant, labor and supply, and provides your child HIV drugs for 2 to 6 weeks after they’re born, your child has less than a 1% chance of getting HIV.

Research have proven that girls who’re dwelling with HIV are as much as two to a few instances more likely to have pregnancy complications than HIV-negative girls. These problems can occur even when the HIV-positive girls are taking antiretroviral remedy (ART). Doable problems embody:

• Miscarriage or stillbirth
• Having a child who’s born with a low delivery weight
• Preterm, or very early, supply

Can I breastfeed if I’ve HIV?

You possibly can select to feed your child your milk via breastfeeding, chestfeeding or pumping with a greater than 99% chance of not transmitting HIV in case you are on HIV drugs and your viral load is undetectable. The professionals and cons ought to be mentioned along with your key members of the family and your HIV specialist to make the very best determination for you and your child.

In case you are on ART, the World Health Organization steerage for breastfeeding is similar as for people who find themselves not dwelling with HIV.

Can I take PrEP whereas pregnant or breastfeeding?

It’s safe to take PrEP (pre-exposure prophylaxis) when you’re pregnant or breastfeeding to forestall HIV transmission. PrEP is safest when taken as a every day capsule as a result of PrEP injections aren’t accredited in being pregnant.

PrEP is taken by individuals who don’t have HIV however are at high risk. You may need to take PrEP in case you have a accomplice who resides with HIV, have or have had unprotected intercourse, or share or have shared needles throughout injected drug use.

In case your accomplice has HIV, it’s additionally a good suggestion to check actually because the chance of transmitting the virus to your child is highest if you happen to get the virus throughout being pregnant or whereas breastfeeding.

Will I be thought of a high-risk being pregnant and wish extra physician appointments?

Sure, your being pregnant shall be thought of excessive threat as a result of dwelling with HIV can put you at an increased chance of pregnancy complications, equivalent to miscarriage, stillbirth and low delivery weight. And you’ll have extra appointments as a result of you have to to see your HIV workforce in addition to your OB workforce. Your healthcare workforce, together with your HIV specialists and your OB or midwife, will need to monitor you extra carefully so as to plan for a wholesome delivery and keep away from problems. They are going to examine routine prenatal labs like your kidney and liver well being, iron ranges, blood sugar and likewise how properly the HIV drugs are working.

You additionally may be provided certain vaccinations equivalent to influenza, Tdap, RSV, Covid-19, pneumococcal and hepatitis A and B if wanted.

We’ve come a great distance, and it’s not solely potential however seemingly that your child shall be born with out HIV. Discuss along with your healthcare workforce about how one can have the healthiest being pregnant potential whereas dwelling with HIV.