HIV And Pregnancy

HIV or human immuno deficiency virus causes AIDS or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, a disease that affects the human immune system. Till date there has been no cure for the same. This is a life threatening disease. More debilitating it is for a woman infected with HIV gets pregnant. Today it isn't a distant dream for a women to fulfill her desire to have a baby despite the disease, like it was say a decade back . But being pregnant with HIV is not going to be easy to deal with. 

This deadly virus can be transmitted from the mother to child during pregnancy either in the womb, during labour, or even postpartum. A mother being affected with HIV increases the chances of the foetus to get infected with the same. A child born with the infection has health issues to deal with post birth with increased probability of death within the initial years or in early childhood. 

But the scenario can be reversed. There are treatment options available to day for a pregnant mother to help her child to be born devoid the infection. An HIV infected mother would need additional tests, care and monitoring done to ensure foetal well being. If a woman is already HIV positive it is better to take a proper decision after a detailed consultation with the doctor. If the HIV status is revealed only during the prenatal tests, today there are still hopes that a healthy pregnancy can be achieved through proper management and medication. Once on a medication program it is wise to follow it to the core to avert troubles to the foetus.

The need of the our is proper steps and awareness by the medical fraternity to help women with HIV  proceed into pregnancy without much hassles and ensure good health of the baby.