Question
Finding out I am HIV positive at 38 weeks pregnant. Will be baby be safe?
11 April 2022. Related: All topics, HIV transmission, Newly diagnosed, Pregnancy.
I am 38 weeks pregnant and just found out I am HIV positive. Will my baby still be safe from HIV?
Answer
Hi, how are you doing?
Congratulations on your pregnancy and I am sorry to hear that you have only just found out your status. Do you have any support?
Many women all over the world find out their status later on in their pregnancy and go on to have healthy, HIV negative babies. Transmission relies on a number of factors and there are things you can do now to help prevent transmission.
Have you started ART? This is a really big factor and even starting days before giving birth can help prevent transmission. Also, as this is determined as higher risk due to finding out late, baby will be given their own course of medication for a few weeks (usually around 12 in high risk) to act prophylactically to prevent transmission.
Another factor is what your viral load is. The lower this number is, the lower the total risk of transmission.
Good luck with the birth.
Josh.
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