Question
Will my baby have HIV?
15 December 2016. Related: All topics, Children, Newly diagnosed, Pregnancy.
I’m HIV positive and I started taking meds on the second month of my pregnancy. I gave birth not knowing my viral load and my baby is now 6 days old and is taking nevirapine. What are the chances of him getting infected? I am also breast-feeding.
Answer
Thanks for getting in touch, and congratulations on the birth of your baby.
The chances of transmitting HIV to babies is dramatically reduced if a woman’s viral load is undetectable at delivery. In most cases this happens within 1-3 months of starting meds. Sometimes it might take longer if viral load was very high when starting.
Because you started treatment early in your pregnancy, it is very likely that your viral load was undetectable. However, without knowing your results, I cannot be sure of this.
When you gave birth did you have a vaginal delivery? If you did, was this supported by your doctor? If it was, then this may be an indication that your VL was undetectable.
You being on treatment is important as this will also protect the baby while you are breastfeeding.
It is also good that your baby is taking meds as this will give extra protection.
This means there is a really good chance your baby will not have HIV.
The meds for the baby will help this and then testing is the only way to finally find out. Unfortunately, it takes a while for the testing to show this.
For more on infants and testing, please see the following:
https://i-base.info/guides/pregnancy/hiv-negative
Hi Nombuso,
Taking ARVs and having an undetectable viral load dramatically reduces the risk of transmission through breastfeeding. In countries where it’s not easy to get formula or clean bottles the WHO (World Health Organisation) guidelines recommend that if a woman is taking HIV treatment (ART), then she should breastfeed exclusively for 6 months. After 6 months the baby can then be weaned onto a safe diet without breastfeeding. You can read more about it on this question here.
Hi I’m HIV pos nd 7mnths pregnant nd I’m on treatment last time my vL was under 60,i m having a struggle wen my baby is born wil it b ohk for me to breastfeed him.
Hi Pretty,
Its not possible for me to say if your baby is positive or not, this is why you’ll need to have your baby tested.
i did’nt take my treatment when i was pregnant and when i gave birth the doctor gave me nevirapine she said i must make my child to drink it for 6weeks and i must come back to take the result of my child.will my child test posetive but i am not breastfeeding
Hi Lindi, It’s great that your son tested negative. Did the clinic tell you to stop giving him nevirapine? Babies do need a short course of HIV meds like this after they are born. But bactrim can help and stop other infections. Can you ask the clinic if it’s okay to stop treatment. Are you continuing to take HIV meds? They can keep HIV in your blood down to very tiny amounts – called undetectable – and this can look after your health too. Here’s the i-Base guide to HIV pregnacy and women’s health.
I gave birth 10weeks ago im a HIV+mom but my son tested negative after birth and i stopped navarapin after 6weeks but didnt give the baby a batrim for 4 weeks should i be worried about my baby’s health that he met get hiv?
Hi Promise,
i-base advocates aren’t doctors. Therefore, please talk to your sons doctor and tell them about what your mother has given your son.
I’m having a son and now he’s 4 weeks and takingNVP 1 day my mom give him traditional medicine without knowing that he shouldn’t take any thing what are the chances of finding my child positive
Hi Jabu,
Congratulations on the birth of your child.
Because you’re both on meds, its highly unlikely that you having cracked nipples will have been a problem. So, please try not to worry about this.
Even if you aren’t breastfeeding its very important that your child takes their ARVs as prescribed. Do not stop the treatment early.
If its any help, many women stop breastfeeding because the milk that they produce isn’t enough. Therefore, if you aren’t ready to tell your mother about your status then don’t.
Are you able to talk to anyone about your status?
I had a normal delivery and gave birth about 6 days there were no problems at all I’ve been giving him nevarapine and I’ve also been taking my treatment. I was breastfeeding and now my nipples are cracked and my baby didn’t seem to get full cz he would cry and was constantly on the breast I finally convinced my mom that we give him formula since he wasn’t getting full. My family still doesn’t know about my status and my mom says I must still breastfeed but I know i can’t and I won’t. Could i have passed the virus because my nipples were cracked even though my viral load was low or might have been undetectable or because we were both on treatment I do not need to worry and now that I have stopped breastfeeding when can he stop drinking nevarapine or should he continue until 6 weeks