FAQs About HIV and Pregnancy

Can I get pregnant if I’ve HIV?

Sure, you may. However it’s ideally suited to speak together with your HIV specialist earlier than you get pregnant. This will help be sure to’re at your healthiest earlier than getting pregnant, enable for any remedy changes, and assist preserve you from transmitting HIV to your child.

In fact, shock pregnancies can occur, so if you happen to discover out you’re pregnant, let your healthcare supplier know as quickly as doable.

So long as you’re on medications for HIV and your viral load stays undetectable, your possibilities of transmitting HIV to your child could 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 (known as superior maternal age or geriatric being pregnant) comes with sure well being dangers in comparison with folks below 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 doable that there could also be greater dangers.

Can I proceed HIV medicines whereas pregnant?

Sure, you may and, the truth is, you must. It’s essential to take HIV medicines whereas pregnant to assist shield each your well being and the well being of your child. This will greatly reduce the chances of transmitting HIV to your baby.

Don’t skip doses and take your medicines on the similar time each day to maintain your viral load as little as doable.

Most of the medicines for HIV are thought to be safe to take whenever you’re pregnant. However, relying on what you’re taking and the way far alongside you’re in your being pregnant, your healthcare supplier would possibly recommend you alter up a few of the HIV medicines you’re at the moment taking if you happen to do grow to be pregnant. It’s essential to speak to your healthcare supplier to seek out out what the professionals and cons of the doable medicines are.

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

Most infants who get HIV, get the virus throughout supply. In the event you’re having a vaginal start, your healthcare supplier might offer you medicines by way of an IV (intravenous) line that may decrease the possibilities of transmitting the virus to your child. In case your viral load is high, you might need a cesarean part and get IV remedy. This will help lower the danger of transmission.

HIV may also move by way of the placenta and infect the child in utero. However, if you happen to proceed to take your HIV medicines as directed all through your being pregnant, labor and supply, and provides your child HIV medicines 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 3 occasions 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). Attainable problems embody:

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

Can I breastfeed if I’ve HIV?

You’ll be able to select to feed your child your milk by way of breastfeeding, chestfeeding or pumping with a greater than 99% chance of not transmitting HIV in case you are on HIV medicines and your viral load is undetectable. The professionals and cons ought to be mentioned together with your key members of the family and your HIV specialist to make the very best choice for you and your child.

In case you are on ART, the World Health Organization steering for breastfeeding is identical 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 tablet as a result of PrEP injections aren’t accepted in being pregnant.

PrEP is taken by individuals who don’t have HIV however are at high risk. You would possibly wish to take PrEP when you have a associate who resides with HIV, have or have had unprotected intercourse, or share or have shared needles throughout injected drug use.

In case your associate has HIV, it’s additionally a good suggestion to check actually because the danger 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 can be thought of excessive threat as a result of dwelling with HIV can put you at an increased chance of pregnancy complications, resembling miscarriage, stillbirth and low start weight. And you should have extra appointments as a result of you will want to see your HIV staff in addition to your OB staff. Your healthcare staff, together with your HIV specialists and your OB or midwife, will wish to monitor you extra intently in an effort to plan for a wholesome start and keep away from problems. They may test routine prenatal labs like your kidney and liver well being, iron ranges, blood sugar and likewise how properly the HIV medicines are working.

You additionally is perhaps provided certain vaccinations resembling influenza, Tdap, RSV, Covid-19, pneumococcal and hepatitis A and B if wanted.

We’ve come a good distance, and it’s not solely doable however probably that your child can be born with out HIV. Speak together with your healthcare staff about how one can have the healthiest being pregnant doable whereas dwelling with HIV.