I am HIV-positive, want to have a baby
May 31, 2009
YOU can get a baby even when you are HIV-positive but you need to have counselling with your husband so that you make an informed decision. Even with the best interventions there is still a risk of infecting either your husband or your baby with HIV. <br
Face HIV with Dr. Watiti
Dear Doctor,
I am HIV-positive while my husband is negative. I am not yet on ARVs because my CD4 count is still high. We would like to have a baby but we use condoms each time we have sex. How can we have a healthy baby without putting my husband at the risk of being infected with HIV?
Monica
Dear Monica,
YOU can get a baby even when you are HIV-positive but you need to have counselling with your husband so that you make an informed decision. Even with the best interventions there is still a risk of infecting either your husband or your baby with HIV.
You should discuss with your doctor the possibility of being artificially inseminated using your husband’s semen or timing the fertile days of your menstrual cycle and having unprotected sex.
You, however, need to know that unprotected sex means your husband risks getting infected. Preventing transmission of HIV to your baby may require you to have your viral load checked.
A high viral load means there are high chances of you infecting the baby even if your CD4 count may be high. If this is the case, you need to be put on ARVs to protect your baby.
You also need to consider how you will deliver because if carried out under safe conditions, a caesarean section will reduce chances of your baby getting infected during labour.
You also need to make plans regarding alternative feeding for your baby because breast milk contains HIV. Alternative feeding for your baby will reduce chances of HIV transmission.
Dear Doctor,
I am HIV-positive while my husband is negative. I am not yet on ARVs because my CD4 count is still high. We would like to have a baby but we use condoms each time we have sex. How can we have a healthy baby without putting my husband at the risk of being infected with HIV?
Monica
Dear Monica,
YOU can get a baby even when you are HIV-positive but you need to have counselling with your husband so that you make an informed decision. Even with the best interventions there is still a risk of infecting either your husband or your baby with HIV.
You should discuss with your doctor the possibility of being artificially inseminated using your husband’s semen or timing the fertile days of your menstrual cycle and having unprotected sex.
You, however, need to know that unprotected sex means your husband risks getting infected. Preventing transmission of HIV to your baby may require you to have your viral load checked.
A high viral load means there are high chances of you infecting the baby even if your CD4 count may be high. If this is the case, you need to be put on ARVs to protect your baby.
You also need to consider how you will deliver because if carried out under safe conditions, a caesarean section will reduce chances of your baby getting infected during labour.
You also need to make plans regarding alternative feeding for your baby because breast milk contains HIV. Alternative feeding for your baby will reduce chances of HIV transmission.