Q and A

Question

I started treatment at 6 months of pregnancy, will my baby be positive?

I am 8 months pregnant but found out that I am HIV positive at 6 months and started my medication from there. My CD4 count is 261. Is it possible that my baby can be born HIV positive?

Answer

Hi,

Thanks for your question. Congratulations on your pregnancy.

It is good you have started treatment, it will protect your health and your baby’s health.

Even at 28 weeks (a late diagnosis) some women who start treatment immediately and get an undetectable viral load by the time of delivery can have normal birth and a negative baby.

As you started treatment at 24 weeks you a very good chance of not transmitting HIV to your baby. Without treatment, there is about a 1 in 3 chance (30%). With treatment and an undetectable viral load, the risk drops to about 1 in 100 (1%).

Please see our guide on pregnancy for more information.

52 comments

  1. Simon Collins

    Hi EMS, thanks, please refer to the quidelines for your country, which might, for example, be from WHO. As delivery is still some weeks away, viral load couls easily become undetectable by then, especially if you and your team can be supportive of good adherence.Please note that i-Base are not doctors.
    https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789241509565

  2. Ems

    Hi I have a 8 month old pregnant patient with HIV. She started her ART on her 8 months pregnancy. Now we tested her Viral Load with a result of 278 copies. Can she transmit the virus even if she’s on her ARV and virally suppresed?

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