If a woman is pregnant and HIV positive, will her baby be HIV positive too?
Most babies born to HIV-infected women escape the virus, but 1 in 4 does become infected before or during birth or through breast-feeding, although no one is certain when viral transmission occurs. Transmission may also be linked to the mother’s health during the pregnancy or birth. There are more viruses during the earlier stages of HIV/AIDS than later. Currently, physicians may prescribe Anti Retroviral Drug (ARV) for infected pregnant women to reduce rates of transmission; effectiveness of this therapy increases, the earlier HIV is diagnosed during the course of infection.
Most babies born to HIV-infected women escape the virus, but 1 in 4 does become infected before or during birth or through breast-feeding, although no one is certain when viral transmission occurs. Transmission may also be linked to the mother’s health during the pregnancy or birth. There are more viruses during the earlier stages of HIV/AIDS than later. Currently, physicians may prescribe Anti Retroviral Drug (ARV) for infected pregnant women to reduce rates of transmission; effectiveness of this therapy increases, the earlier HIV is diagnosed during the course of infection.
