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

Answer: Charlotte Walker

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.

189 comments

  1. Lisa Thorley •

    Hi lukiye,

    All women who are positive should be on meds. This is more important when someone has a low CD4 count and when they are pregnant. For more info about HIV and pregnancy and what you need to do, please see here:

    http://i-base.info/guides/pregnancy

  2. lukiye •

    I’m HIV positive an I’m one month and one week pregnant and not on treatment what are the risks?

  3. Kaye •

    What if you had started your meds but because of traveling overseas you have to stop viral load was near undetectable before meds was finish 6months pregnant how likely is the baby to contract hiv

  4. Lisa Thorley •

    Hi Kaye,

    How long have you been off meds? When are you going to start again. Do you know what your viral load is now?

    If you could get back to us we’ll be able to help.

    Please also see the following:

    http://i-base.info/guides/pregnancy

  5. Lisa Thorley •

    Hi Lissa,

    ARVs are perfectly safe to take when pregnant. Its also important that you take them. This is because they will help reduce the risk of transmission to your baby.

    For more info about HIV and pregnancy, please see here:

    http://i-base.info/guides/pregnancy

  6. Lissa •

    I’m HIV positive and 8 weeks pregnant. What are risk the risks to my baby?

  7. Lisa Thorley •

    Hi Cara,

    If you are worried you need to test. This is very important because you’re pregnant. Being diagnosed late in pregnancy is discussed here:

    http://i-base.info/guides/pregnancy/late-diagnosis

    http://i-base.info/guides/pregnancy/what-about-if-my-hiv-status-is-only-discovered-when-i-am-in-labour

  8. Cara •

    I’m 37 weeks pregnant with my first child. At 2 months I tested negative for HIV. My boyfriend was able to donate plasma 3 months ago but last month he was told he could have HIV. He just recently took an at home HIV test that resulted positive. Could my status now be positive as well? How much would treatment help this late in pregnancy? Can I really protect my child from HIV?

  9. Lisa Thorley •

    Hi Jane,

    Info about the risk of transmission to babies and how mothers can reduce the risk is discussed in our HIV and pregnancy guide.

    http://i-base.info/guides/pregnancy

  10. jane •

    I’m 8 months pregnant and positive, what are the risk?

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