“Sorry, your baby is HIV positive…”

As an expectant young mother who is HIV positive, it’s inspiring to see your commitment to adhering to your medication schedule and following the guidance of healthcare professionals.

 

Embracing the challenges of pregnancy, like morning sickness and feeling your baby’s first movements, you maintain a positive outlook and eagerly anticipate the progress of your baby, with the hopeful expectation of welcoming an HIV-negative baby into the world.

 

 

Going through hours of contractions, eagerly anticipating the arrival of your baby and finally giving birth to a healthy baby is a joyous moment for the parents, grandparents, uncles, and the entire family.

 

The baby is tested for HIV at birth and given prophylaxis to take at home for 6 weeks. At 6 weeks baby is being brought for the second test and boom the results of the test come out HIV positive.

 

What a moment, the motherly love to hear your child is HIV positive, the shock, blaming yourself, asking yourself “Where did I go wrong, why my baby, my baby is innocent, why God? A lot of questions running through your head.

 

What is the way forward?

In a normal setting, we will say the baby has to be initiated on treatment and monitored, monthly follow-up, and routine management.

 

We tend to forget the psychological well-being of the mother and blame the mother for not following the instructions that were given to her.

 

My question is: Does the mother have to go through this? How should we support the mother?

 

Let’s go through some steps from pregnancy to delivery

During pregnancy, both partners must prioritize medication adherence and regular testing. If your partner tests negative for HIV, they should begin preemptive treatment (PREP), while a positive result should prompt them to start antiretroviral therapy (ART) to prevent reinfection.

 

Reinfection during pregnancy can lead to increased viral load in the mother, potentially putting the baby at risk of infection during pregnancy, childbirth, or breastfeeding.

 

When contractions start, go to the hospital as early as possible to prevent home deliveries and other complications during delivery.

 

Following the baby’s birth, the baby needs to be tested for HIV and receive prophylaxis, which should be administered at home.

 

Subsequent tests are scheduled for 6 weeks, 9 months, and 18 months. Adhering to the prophylaxis schedule in the initial 6 weeks is vital as it helps prevent HIV transmission through breastfeeding.

 

Following an HIV-positive diagnosis, the infant will begin antiretroviral therapy (ART). The mother must receive psychological support to address the emotions she is experiencing. Involving the baby’s father to support the mother is important, and at some stage, a caregiver can be brought in to assist the mother, especially if she is a teenager.

 

HIV diagnosis should not be viewed as a death sentence. It’s important to recognize the crucial role of medication adherence, as it can contribute to a healthy lifestyle for both the mother and baby over the long term. Many individuals born with HIV have grown up to become doctors, nurses, and lawyers due to the support system in place.

 

Remember, HIV is a diagnosis and not a prognosis.

 

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