Question
I’m pregnant and just started medication, will my child be OK?
18 November 2018. Related: All topics, Pregnancy.
My Cd4 count is 160 and I’m 4 months pregnant and only starting treatment now. Does it mean my baby will be born HIV positive since my cd4 is that low?
Answer
Thanks for getting in touch.
When someone is pregnant what’s important is there viral load, not their CD4 count.
Now that you’re on medication your HIV will begin to become controlled. Your viral load will decrease and your CD4 count will rise. The lower your viral load is, the less chance there is of transmitting HIV to your child. Please see the following guide for more info about pregnancy and HIV as well as testing in babies. https://i-base.info/guides/pregnancy
Because you’re new to medication you may also find the this guide helpful: https://i-base.info/guides/starting
Hi Sd,
As Lisa says, some countries give ARVs to babies while they are being breastfed. But making sure that your viral load is undetectable can reduce the risk to your baby while breastfeeding. Septrin is an antibiotic, but you could ask the clinic whether they think the zidovudine should be continued too.
The doctor changed her from zidovudine syrup after 6 weeks to Septrin
Hi Sd,
This isn’t going to be an issue. Is your child on ARVs?
Hi…please my baby is 2 months and stopped breastfeeding and gave formula for a day…my baby didn’t liked it and want to go back to breastfeeding….will the baby be at risk if i give the breastmilk??
Hi Sd,
In response to Q2. Babies under the age of 6 months don’t need solid food. However having solid food won’t have any impact on your child’s potential status.
If a child is breast feed they should be given ARVs. However this varies from country to country. What your child is being given is an antibiotic.
Hi,I am hiv positive newly mum…my dd just finished her 6 weeks zidovudine treatment.Pls my questions are as follows
1) They changed the baby medicine to Septrin and no longer zidovudine whilst am still breastfeeding so want to know if it’s ok.The nurse told me she will now be on Sept rin alone till i stop breastfeeding…pls i want to know if it’s ok
2) My mum sees the baby as not getting satisfied after breast milk and wanted me to give her rice cereal after when she is 3 months..pls will take be a risk of her being positive?
Hi Emmanuel,
Finding out you’re HIV positive when you’re 8 months pregnant is called a late diagnosis. But if this happens to you, there is plenty that can be done to help you have an HIV negative baby.
Have you started HIV treatment (ART) yet? It’s a good idea to talk to your doctor about going on ART quickly and trying to get your viral load to undetectable before you have your baby. This can help protect your baby from HIV. There’s a lot of info in this guide to HIV, pregnancy and women’s health.
Tiger nuts should not have an effect on your hubby’s treatment. But anyone on ART should let their doctor know if they are taking any supplements in case of an interaction.
I just find out I am positive at 8 months of pregnancy, thou I did my test at 3 and 6 months and they where negative. How do I protect my baby.
2: Do Tiger nut juice have any drug interaction with Lamuvidine, Tenfvoir and Efevrienz that my hubby is taking.
Hi Viola,
Its possible that your viral load may have rebounded, however to know for sure you’d need to have this checked. Are you now back on meds?
I am pregnant recently I was taking triumeq but a month ago my meds were changed to biktarvy due to my pregnancy, will my viral load be affected if I missed taking meds for five days?