Question
I’m pregnant and have a low CD4, will ARVs be effective?
27 October 2016. Related: All topics, Pregnancy, Starting treatment.
Am hiv positive with a very low cd4 count of 83. I’m also pregnant. I have started treatment I just need to know if it will work.
Answer
Thanks for getting in touch, and congratulations about your pregnancy.
ARVs even when started on a low CD4 count can be very effective. Please see the following link:
However, you must though take them as prescribed – as they will help control your HIV and also reduce the risk of transmission to your baby. More information about being HIV positive and pregnant is available in this guide:
https://i-base.info/guides/pregnancy
Good luck with your pregnancy.
Hi Zaza, congratulations on your pregnancy. It is great that you have started treatment. A CD4 count of 18 does not mean baby is already HIV positive. Your CD4 count does not increase the chances of baby being positive. As you have started treatment before the last month of your pregnancy, the risk for transmission is very low. Baby will also have their own medication after birth. Many women start treatment much later than yourself and still go on to have healthy, HIV negative babies. Good luck with your pregnancy.
Hi
I started taking arvs at months pregnancy and my cd4 count was 18 does it mean my baby is already infected
Hi, congratulations on having a baby. CD4 count is about your immune system. Viral load is about how active the virus is within the body. CD4 count does not impact transmission. Your viral load being undetectable is the best way to avoid HIV transmission to your child. How is your CD4 count now? As you have been on medication for a while hopefully it is starting to increase.
Hie I got pregnant while taking HIV treatment. At 3 months checkup my viral load was 31 and CD4 116. I continued to take my medication religiously throughout pregnancy. My child was preterm due to complications. I had csection at 31 weeks. My child took nvp for 6 weeks but I am always anxious about the child getting HIV. Can a low cd4 count be dangerous even if the viral load is undetectable?
Hi Mpho,
If you’re positive and pregnant, it’s really important that you take your ARVs. It’s the ARVs that will reduce the risk of transmission to your baby. Please see here: https://i-base.info/guides/pregnancy
ARVs are also really important for your own health, your CD4 is low, so you’ll need to take them. In time your CD4 will rise.
Hi,my CD 4 is 84 & I started taking ARV as soon as I found out I’m pregnant BT the pills that are meant to boost my CD 4 count are making me nauseous so I stopped taking them…will this affect my baby m really worried but I’m neva missing my ARV’s.plz help
Hi Linda,
Its perfectly fine to take your medication a few hours either side of your normal time, this won’t be an issue.
Once someone starts medication there viral load should ideally become undetectable within 3 months of being on treatment. Unless you’ve had issue with your medication that you should already be undetectable. You’ll need to have a test to confirm this.
If your viral load is undetectable, then yes you can have a vaginal birth. The chances of your baby being positive will also be drastically reduced. Please see here for more info:
http://i-base.info/guides/pregnancy
Good day
I’m hiv positive and 6 months pregnant, I started medication 3 months ago and i take my meds everyday before i sleep.
I want to know if is it true that i must take meds every day same time.(like for e.g at 22:00 everyday) or anytime before i sleep is fine, that is not a problem i will give birth to a healthy hiv negative child. I can even have undetectable viral load in order to deliver virginal birth with no risk to infect my baby.
Good day Linda,
It’s good that you started Atroiza 2 months ago. HIV meds can reduce viral load very quickly. You can ask the clinic for a new viral load test to check on the reslut now. There’s a lot of info in this guide to HIV pregnancy and women’s health. Keeping yourself healthy, and getting undetectable by taking HIV meds, is the best way to look after your baby’s health.
Eating a balanced diet will keep you healthy too. Here’s a guide to a balanced diet and your health.
Good day
I’m worried about my unborn child, I’m 5 months pregnant and hiv positive. I started medication 2 months back (atroiza). My CD4 was 434 and VL 1125 2 months back, I need advice of how to have undetectable viral load in order to deliver a healthy baby with virginal delivery Including the kind of food I must eat to get undetectable viral load if is possible. Thank you