I`m HIV positive and i’m pregnant. What should i do?

The human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), or sometimes referred to as AIDS virus, attacks the body’s immune system and render it too weak to cope with infection and certain tumours. The latter stage when this happens is called AIDS (acquired immune deficiency syndrome). The progression to full-blown AIDS can now be controlled with modern-day antiviral therapy. HIV is acquired through sex and through blood such as when needled are shared between intravenous drug abuser.

Being HIV positive has tremendous implications to both the mother and her baby. HIV does not usually worsen in pregnancy. There is no evidence of pregnancy increasing the risk of progression of the disease. However, women with HIV tend to have an increased risk of miscarriage, intra-uterine growth restriction, premature births and low birth-weight babies. These complications reflect more on the mother’s state of health rather than the virus itself. The current antiviral treatment does not appear to cause any foetal abnormalities

Many issues need to be considered in an HIV positive woman who is pregnant. Combined care with an HIV expert is essential to reduce the risk to both the mother and her baby.

Based on the New York Heart Association’s classification