Question
I’ve just been diagnosed, I’m 8 months pregnant, what should I do?
1 February 2021. Related: All topics, Newly diagnosed, Pregnancy.
I am 8 months pregnant and just found out am HIV positive, will my baby be infected? Is it too late to start medication?
Answer
Thanks for getting in touch.
How are you doing with your diagnoses? Are you getting any support?
With regards to your question, no it’s not too late, you do however need to start taking ARVs. Please see here for more info: https://i-base.info/guides/pregnancy
Not only will ARVs help your health, they’ll also reduce the risk of transmission to your baby. As you’re yet to start taking ARVs, you may find this helpful: https://i-base.info/guides/starting
Hi Okoronkwo, congratulations on your pregnancy. Do you know your viral load? It is great that you are taking medication.
As you are taking medication you are already doing everything to prevent transmission to baby. When someone is on medication with a suppressed viral load, the risk of transmission is less than 1%. Baby will also be given treatment for a short while after birth to reduce the risk even further.
Treatment for baby after birth: https://i-base.info/qa/19891
HIV positive all over the world give birth to healthy, HIV negative babies. Treatment is very effective at preventing transmission to baby and as you are already taking it, there is no reason to think baby will be HIV positive.
I eze amake I’m hiv position with pregnancy but I’m taking medince can my baby will have hiv positive
Hi Gabriel, congratulations on your pregnancy. No this does not mean that your baby is already HIV positive.
Many women find out their status later in pregnancy and starting treatment as soon as you can reduces the risk of transmission greatly.
At 7 months there is still more than a month where you can be on treatment and help to prevent transmission to baby. Baby will also be given their own treatment for a short while after birth to reduce this risk further.
This is explained here: https://i-base.info/qa/factsheets/infant-meds-when-the-mother-is-living-with-hiv
Many women all over the world find out their status during pregnancy, and with treatment more than 99% of these women will go on to have healthy, HIV negative children.
I’m 7 months pregnant and tested hiv positive, would my baby infected?
Hi Gabriel, congratulations on your pregnancy. How are you adjusting to being HIV positive?
No this does not mean your baby will also be HIV positive. Have you started treatment? 2 months of HIV treatment can significantly reduce the risk of transmission to baby. Baby will also be given their own treatment for a short while after birth to reduce the risk further.
This is explained further here: https://i-base.info/qa/19891
Many women all over the world find out about being HIV positive late in their pregnancy. Starting treatment can make this risk so small that almost all women will go on to have healthy, HIV negative babies even when they find out their status near the end of pregnancy.
I was tested Hiv positive when I was seven months pregnant, should my baby be infected?