Question
I started treatment at 6 months of pregnancy, will my baby be positive?
4 October 2016. Related: All topics, CD4 and viral load, Pregnancy, Southern Africa, Starting treatment.
I am 8 months pregnant but found out that I am HIV positive at 6 months and started my medication from there. My CD4 count is 261. Is it possible that my baby can be born HIV positive?
Answer
Hi,
Thanks for your question. Congratulations on your pregnancy.
It is good you have started treatment, it will protect your health and your baby’s health.
Even at 28 weeks (a late diagnosis) some women who start treatment immediately and get an undetectable viral load by the time of delivery can have normal birth and a negative baby.
As you started treatment at 24 weeks you a very good chance of not transmitting HIV to your baby. Without treatment, there is about a 1 in 3 chance (30%). With treatment and an undetectable viral load, the risk drops to about 1 in 100 (1%).
Please see our guide on pregnancy for more information.
Dear Olivia, congratulations on your new baby. This is such a special and exciting time. You have also done everything you can to protect your baby from HIV. This makes it much more likely that your baby will be fine and will not have HIV. Thank you for sharing your history and experience too. You have lived an amazing journey and I hope everything goes well.
Hello
I’m HIV positive( from birth). I delivered my baby 4 weeks ago, my CD4 count was at 264 the month before I delivered.
They took my baby’s blood samples for testing when I gave birth, we are to get the results in a week. They gave my baby treatment that i make sure to give her everyday as prescribed although, sometimes i can be off with a few minutes from the time that i have set to give her the medication. I’m also breastfeeding as encouraged by the healthcare workers. With all this, is my baby still likely to get infected? I’m scared and nervous for her.