Women infected with HIV can transmit the virus to their child during pregnancy, at delivery, or through breastfeeding. There are ways to decrease the mother-to-child transmission of HIV. Three ways to prevent this transmission is through medication prohylaxis with antiretroviral agents during pregnancy, cesarean section, and no breastfeeding.
Any child born to an infected mother should be closely monitored with periodic labs to make sure he/she is not infected. HIV DNA PCR should be done on exposed infants at birth, 6 weeks, and 6 months. They should also be started on Zidovudine until they have 2 negative PCR tests. For more information regarding HIV in pregnancy, please contact us.
