HIV Moms Give Birth to Negative Babies & How to Prevent Mother to Child Transmission
It is possible to give birth to a negative baby when the mother is HIV positive. This has always puzzled me but through this article I'm hoping to get more education about the situation.
I have a couple of mother friends who tested positive and the next thing I know they are pregnant. I used to be so worried about them and especially the little ones.
But through treatment and health care the baby can be born negative after the birth of a HIV positive mother.
The secret in giving a healthy HIV negative baby is in prenatal care
What is prenatal care? Prenatal care is the medical care recommended for women before and during pregnancy stages. The aim of prenatal care is to detect any potential problems in the early of pregnancy also prevent them if possible. Your regular visits to the doctor.
During your visits of prenatal care there can be prevention treatment of HIV mother to the baby in using the major priority of the HIV program. The program can be very effective as long as the pregnant keeps on attending to the regular schedule set by the health care.
As an HIV positive mom you will be required to play your part in preventing transmission to your little, so you can be expected to make some adjustment in your lifestyle during your pregnant stages.
Some of the issues discussed at the prenatal care are;
Prenatal tests - tests to evaluate your babies health in the womb.
Medical history - past pregnancies and allergies.
Lifestyle issues - what you eat and exercise.
Physical exam - weight, height and blood pressure.
Blood tests - blood type
Urine tests - bladder or any kidney infection
It is also very important for pregnant women to check their HIV status. This is why on your first consultation to the doctor they do blood tests, if they don't, you should ask them to.
Because it has been recorded that babies who die after being giving birth to HIV women, die because they didn't know their HIV status. Know your status...
I'm HIV positive and pregnant, what happens now?
As you start going for your regular pregnancy check ups, you will be put to a drug therapy, that will help reduce mother-to-child transmission.
This can go on up to the last day of your delivery. When you go into labour you will be also put on an intravenous drip of the HIV/AIDS drug AZT. Meaning mothers who are infected with HIV are not going to give birth the same way as the ones who are not infected.
That's the reason mothers should keep aware their doctors before going to labour about their status.
And after the baby is born, HIV test will be performed to check the status of the baby. Whether the baby tested negative or positive to the tests, they will have to put the baby on drug treatment (6-week ZDV regimen) and repeat the tests again after 6 weeks.
The newborn baby will have to be monitored closely during these stages, this can mean regular check ups to the doctor.
Mothers who are positive are asked not to breast feed their new born babies, as as this can increase the chances of your baby being infected through the breast milk. The baby will have to stay on the drug treatment until tested negative, but if the baby is tested positive he or she will be on the drug for life!
So from this baby-tips article, I have learned that early prevention can save your baby!