Question
Starting ART during pregnancy. Will my baby be positive?
7 March 2022. Related: All topics, Newly diagnosed, Pregnancy, Starting treatment.
My CD4 is 467 and my VL is 1140. l was diagnosed with HIV in November 2021 and i’m currently pregnant. l started ART on November 10th, is my baby going to be positive or negative?
Email: ndhlovupaty@gmail.com
Answer
Hi, how are you doing? I am sorry to hear that you have only recently been diagnosed, have you been able to speak with anyone?
Congratulations on your pregnancy. Starting ART is great, this is how best to keep you and baby healthy. How long have you been pregnant? As you have been on ART for a while now it is likely your HIV is being managed well – your CD4 count and VL is very good for being on ART only 3 months.
Your viral load being this low while you are still pregnant means the risk of transmission to baby is very low. Risk is reduced further knowing that baby will have their own HIV medication after being born (for a few weeks) to help prevent them developing HIV.
Many women all over the world find out about their status part way through their pregnancy and have healthy HIV negative babies.
Good luck with the rest of your pregnancy,
Josh.
Hi, congratulations on your pregnancy. Do you mean your viral load is now 48 copies or has it risen by 48 from your previous viral load? Either way, this is such a small change that it could easily just be an error with the test. This means I do not agree that the nurse was right or helpful.
You are doing an amazing job, and I am sure your baby will be ok. Although you will be very busy with your new baby, please be extra careful to temember your own meds too :)
My viral load went up to 48 copies during pregnancy, and the nurse said there’s nothing they can do yet i have been taking treatment as required. She said i can have a low vl but still infact the baby. Yoh! Im still hurting