Question
I am pregnant. When do I start taking ARV’s?
24 January 2012. Related: All topics, Pregnancy, South Africa, Starting treatment.
I am HIV positive and one month pregnant.
When do I start taking the pills that would prevent my child being infected?
Answer
First of all, congratulations on your pregnancy.
The WHO [World Health Organisation] guidelines for treatment in pregnancy recommend all pregnant women wshould start antiretroviral treatment (ART).
They also recommend that ART for the prevention of mother to child transmission should be started as early as possible, and especially after the first 3 months. This is indepdent of the edicison to use treatment for your own health.
ART during pregnancy as the key factor in reducing the risk of transmission of HIV to your baby. This ideally means having an undetectable viral load at the time of delivery.
Viral load refers to the amount of virus in your body. Undetectable means having so little HIV that the standard test cannot find any virus. You can only achieve an undetectable viral load by taking ART. The earlier you can achieve and maintain this, the better.
For more information see this guide on HIV, pregnancy and women’s health. It answers a lot of questions you may also have around HIV and pregnancy in general.
You might also find it useful to read the Treatment Action Campaign’s [TAC] Pregnancy in our lives. It explains guidelines for treatment in pregnancy, for women living with HIV in South Africa. TAC are based in South Africa. They can also give you more information about where you can access further support, or meet with other HIV positive pregnant women.
Good luck with the rest of your pregnancy.
This answer was updated in January 2016 from a question first posted on 24 January 2012.
Hi Zama,
Congratulations on your new baby. But we are not doctors at i-Base. It’s important that you talk to your doctor so you can have the safest possible delivery.
Am pregnant 2 months it my third c section is it safe my viral load is 500 and cd4 it 1004. Will I have complications.
Hi Rose,
When someone is positive and pregnant its important that they are on medication. So yes you should be on meds. Please see the following: http://i-base.info/guides/starting and http://i-base.info/guides/pregnancy
Am 2 months pregnant and just found out am positive, must I start treatment right away?
Hi Zizo.
Are you using medication? If you are what is your viral load? If you aren’t on medication, then yes you will need to start. Please see the following guides? http://i-base.info/guides/starting and http://i-base.info/guides/pregnancy
I’m 4 months pregnant I would like to know Im still early for preventing my child on HIV positive?
Hi Hope,
To reduce the risk of transmission to your baby you’re going to need to start medication. This is really important.
You’ve still got 5 months left to go before you give birth, this should be enough time for your viral load to become undetectable. Please see here for more info:
http://i-base.info/guides/pregnancy
i found out that im 4months pregnant nd im hiv+…im so worried, do i still hv a chance to prevent my bby from being infected since im not on treatment
Hi Thandeka,
Though missing meds for 2 days isn’t ideal, you’ll be OK. The main thing however is to try and remember to take them. This is very important, especially because you’re pregnant.
Hie am 12weeks pregnant and forgot to take my arvs for 2 days!what should I do?