Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 2005. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date. Both me and my partner are HIV+ but want to have a baby. How must we go about doing that? For the baby to not get infected, what must I do?
Trevor Hawkins, M. D.
Associate Clinical Professor, Dept. Family Practice, University New Mexico
Medical Director, Southwest CARE Center, Santa Fe, NM
There are a number of studies that show that if both partners are treated and the HIV viral load is undetectable in both, then the risk of having an infected baby is very low. This , of course, is heresy as there is always some risk, even then.
There are a number of techniques available that wash the sperm to remove all HIV (it's in the seminal fluid around the sperm) from the man and then harvest an egg from the woman and use the washed sperm to fertilize it and replant the fertilized egg in the womb.This has to be done at a major medical center so if you have access to such, then inquire whether they have such a program.
Once pregnant, continue to take your antiviral regimen to keep the viral load undetectable and it is customary to give the baby antiviral medication for 6 weeks after birth. Bottle feed if it's easy to sterilize the bottle; if you must breast feed, do so exclusively and don't switch back and forth from breast to bottle. Always take your antiviral drugs.
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