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HIV in Pregnancy

Q:

My daughter has HIV and she just found out she is pregnant. Is there anything that can be done to protect my grandbaby?

Yes

Correct!

Yes, there are a group of drugs called antiretrovirals that works well in stopping HIV from getting passed between mother and baby. If women take these drugs before and during birth, and their babies are given drugs after birth, HIV transmission is reduced from 25% to less than 2% (fewer than 2 in 100).

No

Incorrect!

There are a group of drugs called antiretrovirals that works well in stopping HIV from getting passed between mother and baby. If women take these drugs before and during birth, and their babies are given drugs after birth, HIV transmission is reduced from 25% to less than 2% (fewer than 2 in 100).

Here are some facts about HIV and pregnancy: 

  • Nearly one out of four women who have HIV don’t know they have it. This puts them at high risk of passing the virus to their babies. 
  • Women can pass HIV to their babies during pregnancy, while the baby is being delivered, or through breastfeeding. 
  • The most common way children become infected with HIV is through infection by their mother. 
  • Not all women who have HIV will give it to their baby. With proper treatment, the risk is greatly reduced. Without treatment, about 25% (1 in 4) of pregnant women with HIV will transmit the virus to their babies. 
  • There is a group of drugs called antiretrovirals that work well in preventing HIV from being passed between mother and baby. 


If you or your partner have, or think you might have, HIV, tell your provider at your next visit. Ask your doctor or midwife  for an HIV test or find a place to get tested here.