How is HIV transmitted to a baby?

The exact way that transmission from mother to baby happens is still unknown. The majority of transmissions occur near the time of, or during, labour and delivery (when the baby is being born). It can also occur through breastfeeding.

Certain risk factors seem to make transmission much more likely. The strongest of these is the extent of the mother’s viral load.

So, as with treatment for anyone with HIV, one important goal of therapy is to reach an undetectable viral load.

This is particularly important at the time of delivery. Other risk factors include premature birth and lack of prenatal HIV care.

Practically all risk factors point to one thing: looking after mother’s health.

Some key points to remember:

• The mother’s health directly relates to the HIV status of the baby.
• Whether the baby’s father is HIV positive will not affect whether the baby is born HIV positive.
• The HIV status of your new baby does not relate to the status of your other children.