Question
Is there transmission risk to my baby?
31 May 2023. Related: All topics, CD4 and viral load, Children, HIV transmission.
Hi, I tested HIV positive in 2020 when I was pregnant and defaulted. So I’m pregnant with 34 weeks and started my ARVs at 26 weeks. My viral load is 1500ml and CD4 is 354. My concern is am I high risk of infecting my baby?
Answer
Hi, how are you doing?
No. You are not high risk for HIV transmission to baby.
Starting treatment already reduces the risk to baby.
A viral load of 1500 shows that your HIV treatment is working and that HIV is being suppressed. This means that the risk of HIV transmission is very small.
Even starting during pregnancy, you still did so early within your pregnancy and this helps reduce the risk of transmission further.
Baby will also be given their own treatment after birth to further reduce the risk of transmission and this is explained more here.
HIV positive women all over the world give birth to healthy HIV negative children. You have done everything right to prevent transmission to baby. Good luck with the rest of your pregnancy.
Josh.
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