Mothers-to-be that are HIV positive can transmit the virus to their unborn babies, during pregnancy, through labour, delivery and breastfeeding. If the mother takes no preventative drugs, the chances of infection increase further. Modern drugs are highly effective at preventing HIV transmission during pregnancy, labour and delivery.

When combined with other interventions, a complete course of treatment can cut the risk of transmission to below two percent. Even where resources are limited, a single dose of medicine given to mother and baby can cut the risk in half. A new statistic reveals that nine out of ten children born in Gauteng are HIV negative – what great news!

A woman who knows she or her partner is HIV positive before she becomes pregnant is better able to plan ahead. If she does not want to have a child then she should consider effective contraception. If she decides to become pregnant, early interventions may be able to help protect her, her partner and her baby. Doctors will be able to advise which interventions are best suited to her situation, and whether she should adjust any treatment she is already receiving.

An HIV positive woman with an HIV negative partner can become pregnant without endangering her partner; by using artificial insemination - the process by which sperm is placed into a female's genital tract using artificial means rather than by natural sexual intercourse. This simple technique provides total protection for the man, but does nothing to reduce the risk of HIV transmission to the baby. If the man has HIV, the only effective way to prevent transmission is sperm washing. This involves separating sperm cells from seminal fluid, and then testing these for HIV before artificial insemination or in vitro fertilisation. Sperm washing is a very effective way to protect both the mother and her baby, but it is only available at a few clinics and can be difficult to access, even in well-resourced countries.

If a couple decides to try to conceive a child by having unprotected sex, they should seek advice on how to limit the risk to each other and to their baby. It is worth noting that someone is less likely to transmit HIV if they are receiving effective antiretroviral treatment, and also if neither they nor their partner has any other STDs. In addition, by limiting unprotected sex to the time of ovulation, a couple can reduce the number of opportunities for HIV to be transmitted between them.

A baby can become infected through different ways, including delivery, but this can be avoided through an C-section delivery. A caesarean section is an operation used to deliver a baby through its mother’s abdominal wall. When a mother is HIV positive, it is done to protect the baby from direct contact with her blood and other bodily fluids. Together with exclusive breastfeeding and antiretrovirals, your baby has the best chance being born and remaining HIV negative. Remember, there is not a 100% chance of your baby becoming infected if you are HIV positive!

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