HIV and Pregnancy

There are more than ninety percent of children who are infected with HIV. These children are contracted with HIV directly by their mother. It is called as perinatal or vertical transmission. It means mother-to-child transmission of the disease. HIV and pregnancy these both concepts are different. HIV infected mothers can have normal pregnancy if they go through the treatment. However, the mother poses risk of the transmission to her child. But it does not mean that a mother and her baby are intended to have poor health and medical problems. The medical treatment decreases chances of baby's contracting from his/her mother. There are only two percent of chances of a baby to get contracted with HIV by a mother if the standard medical treatment has been taken in the United States. On the other hand there are twenty-five percent of chances if the treatment is not taken by a mother.

How Unborn Baby can be infected by HIV?

HIV can be spread out or transmit to from a mother to unborn baby by one of the three ways

Blood supplySharing a blood supply can be the reason of getting infected by HIV. When a child grows up in the womb of a mother, he/she gets the HIV positive infected blood supply from a mother. It brings a baby in the process of infection of HIV. The infected blood gets circulated in the body of a fetus and thus the baby gets infected.

Breastfeeding

Breastfeeding is one of the ways in which the HIV infection carries out to the child. HIV levels are found in large extent in mother's milk. So it is essential to take necessary precaution by a mother for avoiding the transmission in the baby. It is advisable not to breastfeed without any instructions given by the doctor. There are other options available for that reason i.e. commercial formula.

Infection during Delivery

During the delivery, the newborn baby comes in the contact with the bodily fluids of a mother in large extent. Transmission can take place if the exposure is prolonged. In order to avoid the risk most of the HIV positive mothers deliver their children by C-section that helps to decrease exposure to HIV-infected bodily fluids. It also furnishes the physicians to control of any exposure that does occur.

How to prevent the transmission of HIV from a mother-to-child

There is twenty-five percent of possibility of transmission of HIV during pregnancy and after delivery if proper precautions are not taken place. However, the risk of transmission may be less if the given points are followed.

Delivering by C-section (Cesarean Section)

If the risk of transmission of HIV at the time of delivery persists, it is essential to keep the child away from the bodily fluids of a mother. A C-section is useful and quicker option to do so. It keeps most of the time away from the bodily fluids. It is better option than the vaginal delivery. Vaginal delivery increases the chances of the baby to be infected with HIV.

Use of HIV medications

It is always beneficial to have HIV medications for a HIV infected person as it controls the disease. It is advisable to take a regimen containing Retrovir (AZT) to HIV positive women in their pregnancy period as well as during the delivery. AZT should be given to a baby after delivery. It considerably diminishes the risk of transmitting HIV to baby.

Avoid breastfeeding

HIV can be transmitted through breastfeeding as it is bodily fluid. HIV positive women should not breastfeed their children if there are other options available such as commercial baby formula. However, in many parts of the world this formula is not available. It means that breastfeeding is the only option.

HIV and pregnancy are diverse terms. HIV positive women can give birth

to a healthy child. It can be possible if they take proper precaution during pregnancy and delivery.