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 Amanda,
I’m sorry to hear that you tested HIV positive this year. But it’s great that you were HIV negative for both pregnancies with your 2 boys.
What did your doctor say when you tested positive? Could they tell how long it’s been? That might give you some idea about your 2 boys.
Please let us know your viral load and CD4 count results. Have you started HIV treatment (ART)? Here’s the guide to starting ART for lots of info.
Hi, I found out I am hiv positive 11 months ago.I have 2 boys aged 12 and 7 and i breast fed both of them for about a year.I tested hiv negative for both pregnancies.What are the chances that they could also be HIV positive?
Hi Precious,
Congratulations on the birth of your baby. It’s great to hear that the HIV test was negative, and that you’re not breastfeeding. It sounds like you’re doing all you can.
Here in the UK, it is good practice to test the baby on the day she or he is born. The test is repeated after six weeks and again at three months.
If all these tests are negative, and you are not breastfeeding your baby, then your baby does not have HIV.
You will also be told that your baby no longer has your antibodies when he or she is 18 months old.
Please see this page from the guide to HIV pregnancy and women’s health.
My baby was born negative and I am not breastfeeding is it possible for the results to change to positive
Hi Mnqobi,
The simple answer to this question is no. Babies born to positive mothers can’t be mix feed. They need to have either breast milk or formula. If you mix feed there is a risk to your baby.
Can I mixfeed my baby while I’m HIV positive I’m worried he will be infected I’m planning to go back to work and don’t want to stop breastfeeding him wanna use formula for him and breastfeeding at the same time
Hi Johannah,
It’s important to know that even if your viral load has rebounded and you’re breastfeeding, it doesn’t automatically mean that your child is positive. HIV is simply an issue of bad luck.
Also, it isn’t your fault that your viral load has rebounded, this can happen and that’s even if you’ve been adhering to your medication. Being changed to a different combination is the right thing to do.
With regards to your child, you’re going to need to switch to formula and your baby is going to need to take a course of ARVs. Bactrim isn’t an ARV, it’s an antibiotic. This is something that your babies doctor should be aware of. You will also as you know need to have your baby tested.
Please do let us know how it goes.
Hi. I recently received my V.L results and it went up from 311 to 1515 and repeated test went up to 3400 I am freaking out and I am breastfeeding. My medication was changed to the new ARV medication. My baby is 10 weeks and will only be tested next week at the 10 week check up. I am also trying to wean my baby to formula but I’m afraid it’s too late. He only recently developed a rash and my stress level rocketed. I’m sick to my stomach and for the fact that I am not sexually active and I have been taking my meds on time. I was told that the virus must have mutated and it kills me that I have been breastfeeding my baby all this while and that he could be infected as I type this. I need help I don’t understand what went wrong or why. Was I meant to have an hiv + baby all along or am I being punished even though I did everything by the book. I feel like I failed my baby and I can’t forgive myself. Please advise me on how to move on my baby is on bactrim and has a grumbling tummy which makes me worry even more.
Hi Cindy.
I’m going to need to ask you some questions.
Are you breastfeeding? Is your viral load undetectable? Has your baby had any HIV test done?
Hi .my babies got naviropine at birth and it was finished at 3months so I went to clinic and didn’t get another one, and I return back home and kid’s without meds neviropine for 8 days, after that I went back and got it now,my question is will my babies be safe in the virus