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  • Title: Pregnancy, childbirth and AIDS.
    Journal: Safe Mother; 1995 Feb; (16):4-5. PubMed ID: 12319473.
    Abstract:
    The first time many women receive health care is during pregnancy. This may be when they first learn that they have HIV infection or AIDS. Sometimes they learn just after childbirth. There is about a 33% chance of HIV being transmitted to the infant either during delivery or breast feeding. Pregnancy may exacerbate the woman's HIV infection. Prenatal care programs should include HIV counseling and testing, which should be conducted if the woman has: signs and symptoms of HIV infection (e.g., chronic diarrhea and swollen glands); a history of intravenous (IV) drug use; a partner or child with HIV related symptoms, history or presence of sexually transmitted disease; history of prostitution, unprotected sex with many partners, or blood transfusion; and/or a partner who is bisexual or an IV drug user. After a woman learns of a positive HIV status, the first job for the counselor is providing emotional support. The counselor must also provide her information so she can make her own decision about continuation of the pregnancy and adoption of behavior to prevent HIV transmission and subsequent pregnancies. All pregnant women regardless of HIV status should receive prenatal care, eat nourishing food, and use only medicine prescribed by a health care worker. HIV-positive pregnant women also need to be especially prudent about practicing good hygiene to minimize the risk of infection, about exercising without strenuous exertion, and about making sure they receive the tetanus toxoid. Women with AIDS tend to have pregnancy complications (e.g., premature labor). HIV-infected women should deliver, if possible, in a health facility. If a home delivery is the only option, the attendant should use a clean delivery kit. The person assisting with delivery should use precautions to protect from HIV transmission (e.g., gloves and covering any open wounds on the skin).
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