Question
I am HIV positive and pregnant, what are the risks?
7 January 2018. Related: All topics, Pregnancy.
I am 32, married and have two children. I am HIV positive and so is my husband. I recently discovered I am pregnant but my husband is furious with me, and has advised me to go for an abortion. I am now debating on what to do as I do not want to go through a pregnancy without the support of my husband. What are the risks in pregnancy when HIV positive?
Answer
Thank you for your question.
Congratulations on the pregnancy and I am sorry if this is causing problems with your husband.
Is he upset because he is worried about the child becoming positive? Or because he is worried about your health? Or something else?
Also, are you already taking HIV treatment (ART)? this is because ART is good for both you and your baby’s health.
Many HIV positive women all over the world give birth to healthy negative children using ART. There is no medical reason stopping you from having this baby if you decide you want to continue with the pregnancy.
Also, for your health, HIV positive women are not usually at any further risk of pregnancy-related complications than negative women. As far as the HIV is concerned, most women have a small drop in their CD4 count of about 50, but this goes up again once the baby is born. For more information on this please follow this link.
For general information about HIV, Pregnancy and Women’s Health please see this i-Base guide.
Good luck!
Note: this answer was updated in January 2018 from a question first posted in January 2011.
I’m 6 months pregnant, and I’ve just been diagnosed. Will my baby be OK?
Hi Tshidi,
Have you already had the baby? If you haven’t there’s info here about meds for babies:
http://i-base.info/guides/pregnancy/will-baby-need-hiv-drugs
I’m hiv positive and Im on arvs so how soon should I see a Dr and to protect my unborn baby 2 be hiv negative like taking lamivudine when should I take lamivudine
Thank you for the answers for a HIV positive pregnant mothers.
Hi John, i-Base doesn’t answer new questions on testing and transmission. All frequently asked questions are already answered here.
My wife is 7 months pregnant and have done 2 HIV tests but they all came back inconclusive. What does it mean?
Hi Kudzie,
If babies are going to contract HIV, its from their mothers. As long as you’re on treatment and your viral load is undetectable the risk of transmission is minimal. Your husband skipping his meds won’t impact on you or your HIV.
Guidelines regarding breastfeeding vary depending on where someone lives. Which country are you in? Is formula an option?
hie my husband and l are on Art bt now the problem is he has since resumed to drinking and smoking resulting in him nt taking his meds for several days he skips days and m 8months pregnant having unprotected sex with him hw safe is our baby and is it ok for me to breastfeed
Hello Given, It’s great that you’re going to have a baby. And good news that you’ve found out now while you’re just over 11 weeks pregnant. Starting HIV treatment (ART) soon can protect your baby. Many HIV positive mothers have healthy HIV negative babies by being on ART. There’s more info in this guide to HIV, pregnancy and women’s health. It’s important to talk to the doctor about starting ART soon.
I am Hiv positive and not taking any treatment for it and I just found out that I am 11weeks 6 days pregnant how risky it is on the baby to get infected and how soon can I start taking treatment and protect the baby from getting infected