How can I have an HIV-free baby?
Mar 08, 2009
IT is possible to have an HIV-free child when you are HIV-positive because health workers know how to minimise mother-to-child transmission of HIV. <br>
Face HIV with Dr Watiti
Dear doctor,
I am eight months pregnant and HIV-Positive but not yet on ARVs. In August 2008, my CD4 count was 404 cells/ml. I work in a remote area and get antenatal care from a clinic with no experience in handling HIV-positive mothers. How can I have an HIV-free child? For how long should I breastfeed? Some doctors advise mothers not to breastfeed yet I was advised to do so for three months. What is the right thing to do? Should I have a normal delivery or caesarean operation?
Concerned mother
Dear concerned mother,
IT is possible to have an HIV-free child when you are HIV-positive because health workers know how to minimise mother-to-child transmission of HIV.
Even though your CD4 count is high and you are not eligible for anti-retroviral therapy yet, your doctor should check your viral load. If you have a lot of virus in your blood, you should be put on ARVs to avoid transmission of HIV while the baby is still in the uterus.
Most of the infections in babies occur during labour, so you should be given a Nevirapine tablet at the on-set of labour and your baby should be given Nevirapine syrup soon after birth.
Transmission can also be minimised if you can have a safe caesarean section to avoid contamination of the baby with HIV-infected blood.
Some of the infections occur during breastfeeding because HIV is found in breast milk. You can cut off this by not breastfeeding if you can afford alternatives like baby formula or cow’s milk.
The advice we give to HIV-positive mothers to exclusively breastfeed for three to six months is for those who cannot afford alternative feeding.
Otherwise the ideal would be no breastfeeding at all for HIV-positive mothers.
Dear doctor,
I am eight months pregnant and HIV-Positive but not yet on ARVs. In August 2008, my CD4 count was 404 cells/ml. I work in a remote area and get antenatal care from a clinic with no experience in handling HIV-positive mothers. How can I have an HIV-free child? For how long should I breastfeed? Some doctors advise mothers not to breastfeed yet I was advised to do so for three months. What is the right thing to do? Should I have a normal delivery or caesarean operation?
Concerned mother
Dear concerned mother,
IT is possible to have an HIV-free child when you are HIV-positive because health workers know how to minimise mother-to-child transmission of HIV.
Even though your CD4 count is high and you are not eligible for anti-retroviral therapy yet, your doctor should check your viral load. If you have a lot of virus in your blood, you should be put on ARVs to avoid transmission of HIV while the baby is still in the uterus.
Most of the infections in babies occur during labour, so you should be given a Nevirapine tablet at the on-set of labour and your baby should be given Nevirapine syrup soon after birth.
Transmission can also be minimised if you can have a safe caesarean section to avoid contamination of the baby with HIV-infected blood.
Some of the infections occur during breastfeeding because HIV is found in breast milk. You can cut off this by not breastfeeding if you can afford alternatives like baby formula or cow’s milk.
The advice we give to HIV-positive mothers to exclusively breastfeed for three to six months is for those who cannot afford alternative feeding.
Otherwise the ideal would be no breastfeeding at all for HIV-positive mothers.