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HIV and PregnancyTese act sheets on HIV and pregnancy are intended or women inected with HIV who are pregnant or thinking about becoming pregnant. Te act sheets include inormation to help women inected with HIV stay healthy during pregnancy and reduce the risk o transmitting HIV to their babies.

Te inormation in these act sheets is based on the Recommendations for Use of Antiretroviral Drugs in Pregnant HIV-1Infected Women for Maternal Health and Interventions to Reduce Perinatal HIV Transmission in the United States. TeGuidelines are developed by the U.S. Department o Health and Human Services (HHS) Panel on reatment o HIV-Inected

Pregnant Women and Prevention o Perinatal ransmission, a working group o the Ofce o AIDS Research Advisory Counci(OARAC). Te Guidelines are updated according to the latest advances in the management o HIV in pregnant women andthe prevention o mother-to-child transmission o HIV. Te current Guidelines are available on the AIDSinfowebsite athttp://aidsino.nih.gov/guidelines.

Tese act sheets are not intended as a substitute or the expert advice and care o medical proessionals. For individualizedtreatment, pregnant women inected with HIV should consult with a health care provider experienced in managing HIV during pregnancy.

Table of Contents

1. HIV esting and Pregnancy

2. Mother-to-Child ransmission o HIV

3. Anti-HIV Medications or Use in Pregnancy

4. Saety o Anti-HIV Medications During Pregnancy

5. Preventing ransmission o HIV During Labor and Delivery

6. Women Inected with HIV and Teir Babies Ater Birth

This information is based on the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Recommendations for Use Reviewed

February 2012of Antiretroviral Drugs in Pregnant HIV-1-Infected Women for Maternal Health and Interventions to Reduce

Perinatal HIV Transmission in the United States (available at http://aidsinfo.nih.gov/guidelines).
http://aidsinfo.nih.gov/guidelineshttp://aidsinfo.nih.gov/guidelineshttp://aidsinfo.nih.gov/guidelineshttp://aidsinfo.nih.gov/guidelines


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HIV and Pregnancy HIV Testing and Pregnancy

HIV Testing and Pregnancy

I am pregnant. Will I be tested for HIV?

HIV testing is recommended or all pregnant women. HIVtesting is provided to pregnant women in two ways: opt-inor opt-out testing. In areas with opt-in testing, women maybe oered HIV testing. Women who accept testing will needto sign an HIV testing consent orm. In areas with opt-outtesting, HIV testing is automatically included as part o routine prenatal care. With opt-out testing, women must specically asknotto be tested and sign a orm reusing HIVtesting. Te Centers or Disease Control and Prevention(CDC) recommends that opt-out testingbe provided to allpregnant women.

Ask your health care provider about HIV testing in yourarea. I HIVopt-out testingis not available, ask to be testedor HIV.

What are the benefits of HIV testing for preg

nant women?

A mother who knows early in her pregnancy that she is HIVinected has more time to make important decisions. She andher health care provider will have more time to decide on eective ways to protect her health and prevent mother-tochild transmission of HIV. She can also take steps toprevent passing HIV to her partner. (See the Preventing HIV

ransmission act sheet.)

How will I be tested for HIV?Te most common HIV test is the HIV antibody test. HIVantibodies are a type o protein the body produces in responseto HIV inection. An HIV antibody test looks or HIV antibodies in a persons blood, urine, or uids rom the mouth.When a person has a positive result rom an HIV antibody test,a second and dierent type o antibody test is done to conrmthat the person is indeed inected with HIV. Te second test iscalled a conrmatory HIV test. o be diagnosed with HIV, apersons conrmatory HIV test must also be positive. (For

more inormation, see the esting or HIVact sheet.)Getting results rom an HIV antibody blood test generallytakes only a ew days. (Results rom some tests that use uidsrom the mouth are ready within an hour.) Getting resultsrom a conrmatory HIV test can take longerrom a ewdays to a ew weeks ater the test. People generally receivetheir results during a ollow-up visit with a health careprovider. It is important to keep your appointment or yourHIV test results.

Terms Used in This Fact Sheet:

Mother-to-child transmission of HIV: the passing of HIV

from a woman infected with HIV to her baby during pregnancy, during labor and delivery, or by breastfeeding.

HIV antibody test: an HIV test that checks for HIV antibodies in a persons blood, urine, or fluids from themouth. When the body is infected with HIV, the immune

system (the system of the body that fights off infections)produces HIV antibodies.

Pregnant women who test positive or HIV have many options to stay healthy and protect their babies rom becoming

HIV inected. Health care providers recommend that womeninected with HIV take anti-HIV medications to preventmother-to-child transmission o HIV and, i needed, ortheir own health.

I you are diagnosed with HIV, your health care provider willanswer your questions about HIV and discuss ways to helpyou and your baby stay healthy. ogether you can make decisions about HIV care during your pregnancy.

What happens if I ask not to be tested for

HIV?

You will not be tested or HIV. However, your health careprovider will likely re-emphasize the importance o HIV testing. You may be oered counseling on how HIV is spreadand ways to prevent HIV transmission. Troughout yourpregnancy, your health care provider may encourage you toreconsider your decision not to be tested.

Where can I find information on HIV testing

in my state?

Te U.S. Department o Health and Human Services (HHS)oers inormation on HIV testing or each state. ContactHHS at 18776966775 or 12026190257. You can also

nd inormation on your state health department website.For more information:

Contact an AIDSinfo health inormation specialist at 18004480440 or visit http://aidsino.nih.gov. See yourhealth care provider or medical advice.



http:///reader/full/http://aidsinfo.nih.govhttp://aidsinfo.nih.gov/guidelineshttp:///reader/full/http://aidsinfo.nih.govhttp://aidsinfo.nih.gov/guidelines


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HIV and Pregnancy Mother-to-Child Transmission of HIV

Mother-to-Child Transmission of HIV

How is HIV transmitted?HIV is transmitted (passed) rom one person to anotherthrough specic body uidsblood, semen, genital uids,and breast milk. Havingunprotected sexor sharing needleswith a person inected with HIV are the most common waysHIV is transmitted.

Mother-to-child transmission of HIVis when a womaninected with HIV transmits HIV to her baby during pregnancy, during labor and delivery, or by breasteeding. Because HIV can be transmitted through breast milk, womeninected with HIV should not breasteed their babies. In theUnited States, baby ormula is a sae and healthy alternative

to breast milk.Although the risk is very low, HIV can also be transmitted toa baby through ood that was previously chewed (prechewed) by a mother or caretaker inected with HIV. o besae, babies should not be ed pre-chewed ood.

HIVcannotbe transmitted through casual contact, such ashugging and closed-mouth kissing. HIV also cannotbetransmitted by items such as toilet seats, door knobs, ordishes used by a person inected with HIV.

When are anti-HIV medications used to pre

vent mother-to-child transmission of HIV?Anti-HIV medications are used at the ollowing times to reduce the risk o mother-to-child transmission o HIV:

During pregnancy, pregnant women inected with HIV receive aregimen (combination) o at least three dierentanti-HIV medications.

During labor and delivery, pregnant women inected withHIV receive intravenous (IV) AZT and continue to takethe medications in their regimens by mouth.

After birth, babies born to women inected with HIV receive liquid AZ or 6 weeks. (Babies o mothers who didnot receive anti-HIV medications during pregnancy may be

given other anti-HIV medications in addition to AZ.)

In addition to taking anti-HIV medications to reduce therisk o mother-to-child transmission o HIV, a pregnantwoman inected with HIV may also need anti-HIV medicationsfor her own health. Some women may already be on aregimen beore becoming pregnant. However, because duringpregnancy some anti-HIV medications may not be sae touse or may be absorbed dierently by the body, the medica-

Terms Used in This Fact Sheet:Unprotected sex: sex without using a condom.

Mother-to-child transmission of HIV: the passing of HIVfrom a woman infected with HIV to her baby during preg

nancy, during labor and delivery, or by breastfeeding.

Regimen: Anti-HIV medications are grouped intoclasses according to how they fight HIV. A regimen is acombination of three or more anti-HIV medications fromat least two different classes.

Intravenous (IV): to give a medication through a needle

directly into a vein.

AZT: an anti-HIV medication in the nucleoside reverse

transcriptase inhibitor (NRTI) class. AZT is also called zidovudine, Retrovir, or ZDV.

Placenta (also called the afterbirth): tissue that developswithin the mothers uterus during pregnancy to provide

the baby with oxygen and nutrition.

tions in a womans regimen may change.

How do anti-HIV medications help prevent

mother-to-child transmission of HIV?

aking anti-HIV medications during pregnancy reduces theamount o HIV in an inected mothers body. Having less

HIV in the body reduces the risk o mother-to-child transmission o HIV.

Some anti-HIV medications also pass rom the pregnantmother to her unborn baby through the placenta(alsocalled the afterbirth). Te anti-HIV medication in thebabys body helps protect the baby rom HIV inection. Tisis especially important during delivery when the baby may beexposed to HIV in the mothers genital uids or blood.

Ater birth, babies born to women inected with HIV receiveanti-HIV medication. Te medication reduces the risk o inection rom HIV that may have entered the babies bodiesduring delivery.

For inormation on what anti-HIV medications to take during pregnancy, see theAnti-HIV Medications or Use inPregnancyact sheet.

For more information:

Contact an AIDSinfo health inormation specialist at 18004480440 or visit http://aidsino.nih.gov. See yourhealth care provider or medical advice.



http:///reader/full/http://aidsinfo.nih.govhttp:///reader/full/http://aidsinfo.nih.govhttp://aidsinfo.nih.gov/guidelineshttp:///reader/full/http://aidsinfo.nih.govhttp://aidsinfo.nih.gov/guidelines


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HIV and Pregnancy Anti-HIV Medications for Use in Pregnancy

Anti-HIV Medications for Use in Pregnancy

I am HIV infected and pregnant. When shouldI start taking anti-HIV medications?

the potential o anti-HIV medications to harm your babyor cause birth deects.

When to start taking anti-HIV medications depends on yourhealth, how much HIV has aected your body, and how aralong you are in your pregnancy. In general, people inectedwith HIV who are not pregnant begin taking anti-HIV medications when their CD4 counts all below 500 cells/mm3 ori they develop certain other inections. (See theWhen toStart Anti-HIV Medications act sheet.) Pregnant women inected with HIV must also consider whether they need anti-HIV medications or their own health or only to preventmother-to-child transmission of HIV.

Women who need anti-HIV medicationsfor their ownhealth:

may be taking anti-HIV medications beore becomingpregnant; or

may start taking anti-HIV medications when they becomepregnant.

Women who need anti-HIV medications only to preventmother-to-child transmission o HIV can consider waitinguntil ater the rst trimester o pregnancy to take anti-HIVmedications. However, starting medications earlier may bemore eective at reducing the risk o mother-to-child trans

mission o HIV.All pregnant women inected with HIV should be takinganti-HIV medications by the second trimester o pregnancy.Women diagnosed with HIV later in pregnancy should starttaking anti-HIV medications as soon as possible.

What anti-HIV medications should I use dur

ing my pregnancy?

All pregnant women inected with HIV should take aregimen (combination) o at least three anti-HIV medications.However, the specic medications in your regimen will depend on your individual needs. o select a regimen, yourhealth care provider will review your medical history andorder blood tests to assess your health and the stage o yourHIV inection. Your health care provider will also consider:

why you need anti-HIV medicationsor your own healthor only to prevent transmitting HIV to your baby;

changes in how your body may absorb medications duringpregnancy; and

I am currently taking anti-HIV medications and

just learned Im pregnant. What should I do?Continue taking your anti-HIV medications until you talk toyour health care provider. Stopping treatment could harmboth you and your baby.

I you are in the rst trimester o pregnancy, tell your healthcare provider right away i you are takingSustiva(orAtripla, an anti-HIV medication that contains Sustiva). Sustiva alone or in Atripla may cause birth deects that develop

during the rst ew months o pregnancy. Your health careprovider may recommend sae alternatives or these medications. Ater the rst trimester, Sustiva or Atripla can be usedsaely.


CD4 count: CD4 cells, also called T cells or CD4+ T cells,are white blood cells that fight infection. HIV destroys

CD4 cells, making it harder for the body to fight infections. A CD4 count is the number of CD4 cells in a sample of blood. A CD4 count measures how well yourimmune system is working.

Mother-to-child transmission of HIV: the passing of HIVfrom a woman infected with HIV to her baby during preg

nancy, during labor and delivery, or by breastfeeding.

Regimen: Anti-HIV medications are grouped intoclasses according to how they fight HIV. A regimen is acombination of three or more anti-HIV medications fromat least two different classes.

Sustiva: an anti-HIV medication in the NNRTI class. Sus

tiva is also called efavirenz or EFV.

Atripla: a combination of three anti-HIV medications inone pillSustiva (also called efavirenz or EFV), Emtriva(also called emtricitabine or FTC), and Viread (also calledtenofovir or TDF).

Viral load: the amount of HIV in a sample of blood. Viral

load measures how much virus you have in your bodyand how well anti-HIV medications are controlling the infection.

Drug-resistance testing: a blood test to identify which, ifany, antiretroviral (ARV) drugs will not be effective against

a person's specific strain of HIV. Resistance testing isdone using a sample of blood.



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HIV and Pregnancy Anti-HIV Medications for Use in Pregnancy

alk to your health care provider about the anti-HIV medications in your regimen. Because pregnancy can aect how thebody absorbs medications, the doses o some medications youtake may change later in pregnancy.

I you are taking anti-HIV medications and yourviral loadismore than 500 copies/mL, your current regimen may not be

eective at suppressing HIV. Your health care provider willrecommend a test to see i the medications are still workingagainst HIV (drug-resistance testing) and use the test results to nd more eective anti-HIV medications.

I used to take anti-HIV medications, but I

dont anymore. What should I do?

alk to your health care provider about all anti-HIV medications you have used, the results o past drug-resistance testing,and why you no longer take anti-HIV medications. Yourmedical history, past drug-resistance test results, and addi

tional drug-resistance testing will help you and your healthcare provider select a new regimen that is sae or use duringpregnancy.

Whether you were on anti-HIV medications beore becomingpregnant or are just starting a regimen, your health careprovider will:

explain the risks and benets o using anti-HIV medications during pregnancy;

stress the importance o taking anti-HIV medications exactly as directed; and

arrange or additional medical or social support you mayneed to help you have a healthy pregnancy.

For more information:Contact an AIDSinfo health inormation specialist at 18004480440 or visit http://aidsino.nih.gov. See your healthcare provider or medical advice.





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HIV and Pregnancy Safety of Anti-HIV Medications During Pregnancy

Safety of Anti-HIV Medications During Pregnancy

I am HIV infected and pregnant. Is it safe to use

anti-HIV medications during my pregnancy?Women inected with HIV can saely use many anti-HIVmedications during pregnancy to protect their health and toprevent transmitting HIV to their babies. However, someanti-HIV medications can cause problems when used duringpregnancy. Knowing more about the saety o anti-HIVmedications and pregnancy will help you and your healthcare provider decide what medications are right or you.

Is my baby at risk from anti-HIV medications

I take during pregnancy?

Its not known i babies will have any long-term eects romthe anti-HIV medications their mothers use during pregnancy. However, the risk omother-to-child transmissionof HIVis known. And the illness that results when HIV inection is passed rom a mother to her child is very real. Because anti-HIV medications can greatly reduce the risk opassing HIV inection rom a mother to her child duringpregnancy, all pregnant women inected with HIV shouldtake anti-HIV medications.

Inormation on the use o anti-HIV medications during pregnancy is limited. But enough inormation is known to makerecommendations about the saety o the most commonly used

medications rom the three most commonly used classes oanti-HIV medicationsprotease inhibitors (PIs), non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NNRTIs), and nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs). (Notenough inormation is known to make recommendationsabout use during pregnancy oentry inhibitors and integraseinhibitors, two additional classes o anti-HIV medications.)

Protease inhibitors (PIs)

Tere may be a link between the use o some PIs and highblood sugar (hyperglycemia) or diabetes. For some women,the risk o hyperglycemia increases in pregnancy. It is uncleari taking PIs adds to this risk. alk to your health care providerabout the use o PIs during pregnancy and about when tohave blood tests to check or hyperglycemia or diabetes.

Non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase in

hibitors (NNRTIs)

Terms Used in This Fact Sheet:Mother-to-child transmission of HIV: the passing of HIV


Protease inhibitor (PI): a class of anti-HIV medications. PIsblock HIV protease, an enzyme HIV needs to make copies ofitself.

Non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NNRTI): a

class of anti-HIV medications. NNRTIs bind to and alter reverse transcriptase, an enzyme HIV needs to make copiesof itself.

Nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NRTI): a class ofanti-HIV medications. NRTIs block reverse transcriptase, an

enzyme HIV needs to make copies of itself.Entry inhibitor: a class of anti-HIV medications. Entry inhibitors block CCR5 , a protein on the CD4 cells that HIVneeds to enter the cells.

Integrase inhibitor: a class of anti-HIV medications. Integrase inhibitors work by blocking HIV integrase, a proteinHIV needs to make copies of itself.

Hyperglycemia: too much glucose (sugar) in the blood.

Diabetes (also known as diabetes mellitus): high levels ofglucose (sugar) in the blood.

Sustiva: an anti-HIV medication in the NNRTI class. Sustivais also called efavirenz or EFV.

Viramune: an anti-HIV medication in the NNRTI class. Viramune is also called nevirapine or NVP.

Atripla: a combination of three anti-HIV medications in one

pillSustiva (also called efavirenz or EFV), Emtriva (alsocalled emtricitabine or FTC), and Viread (also called tenofovir or TDF).

CD4 count: CD4 cells, also called T cells or CD4+ T cells, are

white blood cells that fight infection. HIV destroys CD4 cells,making it harder for the body to fight infections. A CD4 countis the number of CD4 cells in a sample of blood. A CD4count measures how well your immune system is working.

Lactic acidosis: a condition caused by too much lactic acidin the blood.

Zerit: an anti-HIV medication in the NRTI class. Zerit is also

called stavudine or d4T.

Videx: an anti-HIV medication in the NRTI class. Videx isalso called didanosine or ddI.

wo NNRIs, SustivaandViramune, should be used in rst ew months o pregnancy. Tereore, i possible, use opregnant women only under certain conditions. Sustiva should be avoided in the rst trimester o preg

nancy.Atripla, a combination pill that contains Sustiva, Sustiva may cause birth deects that develop during the





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HIV and Pregnancy Safety of Anti-HIV Medications During Pregnancy

should also be avoided in the rst trimester o pregnancy.Ater the rst trimester, Sustiva or Atripla can be used saely.

Viramune increases the risk o very serious liver damage inwomen with CD4 counts greater than 250 cells/mm3. Viramune should only be started in pregnant women withCD4 counts higher than 250 cells/mm3 i the benets veryclearly outweigh the risks. Women who begin using Vira

mune during pregnancy are careully monitored or earlysigns o liver damage. Women taking Viramune withoutproblems beore they become pregnant can saely continueto take the medication. Liver damage rom Viramune use inpregnancy has not been seen in women already taking themedication without side eects.

Nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors

(NRTIs)Using NRIs can sometimes lead to lactic acidosis, a condition caused by the buildup o a specifc acid in the blood.

Women should not take the combination oZeritand

Videxduring pregnancy because the combination hascaused deaths rom lactic acidosis and liver ailure. Womentaking NRIs during pregnancy are watched careully orsigns o lactic acidosis.

alk to your health care provider about the saety o anti-HIVmedications during pregnancy. Tere are many anti-HIV

medications to choose rom that will keep you and your babyhealthy.

For more information:Contact an AIDSinfo health inormation specialist at 18004480440 or visit http://aidsino.nih.gov. See your healthcare provider or medical advice.





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HIV and Pregnancy Preventing Transmission of HIV During Labor and Delivery

Preventing Transmission of HIV During Labor and Delivery

I am HIV infected and pregnant. Will I needanti-HIV medications during labor and

delivery?Women inected with HIV take anti-HIV medications during labor and delivery to reduce the risk omother-to-childtransmission of HIV. (See the Mother-to-Child ransmission o HIVact sheet.) During labor and delivery, womencontinue to take the anti-HIV medications they tookthroughout their pregnancies. Tey also receive an anti-HIVmedication calledAZT intravenouslyto protect their babies rom HIV in the mothers genital uids or blood during

labor and delivery.alk to your health care provider about the use o anti-HIVmedications during labor and delivery well beore your duedate.

Will I have a vaginal or a cesarean delivery?

Te risk o mother-to-child transmission o HIV is low orwomen who take anti-HIV medications during pregnancyand have aviral loadless than 1,000 copies/mL near thetime o delivery.

For some HIV-inected mothers, a scheduled cesarean delivery(also called aC-section) at 38 weeks o pregnancy(2 weeks beore the due date) can reduce the risk o motherto-child transmission o HIV. A scheduled cesarean deliveryis recommended or HIV-inected women who:

have not received anti-HIV medications during pregnancy;

have a viral load greater than 1,000 copies/mL or an unknown viral load near the time o delivery.

I, beore her scheduled cesarean delivery, a womans waterbreaks (also called rupture of membranes) or she goes intolabor, a cesarean delivery may not reduce the risk o motherto-child transmission o HIV. I there is not another pregnancy-related reason to have a cesarean delivery, the risks o

going ahead with the scheduled cesarean delivery may begreater than the benets. Depending on an individualwomans situation, a vaginal delivery may be the best alternative to a planned cesarean delivery.

What are the risks of delivery?All deliveries have riskseven or mothers without HIV inection. In general, a cesarean delivery has greater risks than avaginal delivery.




AZT: an anti-HIV medication in the nucleoside reversetranscriptase inhibitor (NRTI) class. AZT is also called zidovudine, Retrovir, or ZDV.

Intravenously: giving a medication directly into a vein

through a needle.

Viral load: the amount of HIV in a sample of blood.

Cesarean delivery (C-section): delivery of a baby by a surgical incision through the mother's abdominal wall anduterus.

Rupture of membranes: when the amniotic sac (bag ofwaters) holding the unborn baby bursts. Also called

water breaking.

For the mother, the risk o inection or a blood clot in thelegs or lungs is greater with a cesarean delivery than with avaginal delivery. All women who have a cesarean delivery, including women inected with HIV, should receive antibioticsto prevent inection. For the inant, the risk o temporarybreathing difculties may be greater with a cesarean delivery.

alk to your health care provider about the risks and benetso each type o delivery early in your pregnancy.

For more information:Contact an AIDSinfo health inormation specialist at18004480440 or visit http://aidsino.nih.gov. See yourhealth care provider or medical advice.





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HIV and Pregnancy Women Infected with HIV and Their Babies After Birth

Women Infected with HIV and Their Babies After Birth

I am HIV infected and pregnant. What are thechances my baby will be born with HIV?In the United States and Europe, ewer than 2 babies in 100born to mothers inected with HIV are inected with thevirus. Tis is because most women inected with HIV andtheir babies receive anti-HIV medications to prevent motherto-child transmission of HIVand do not breasteed. I youtake anti-HIV medications during pregnancy and labor anddelivery, i your baby receives anti-HIV medications aterbirth, and i you do not breasteed your baby, the risk opassing HIV to your baby is very low.

Will my newborn baby receive anti-HIVmedications?Yes. Within 6 to 12 hours ater delivery, babies born towomen inected with HIV receive an anti-HIV medicationcalled AZ. AZ helps prevent mother-to-child transmissiono HIV. Te babies receive AZ or 6 weeks. (In certain situations, some babies may receive other anti-HIV medications inaddition to AZ.)

When will my baby be tested for HIV?HIV testing or babies born to women with known HIV inection is recommended at 14 to 21 days, at 1 to 2 months,

and again at 4 to 6 months. esting or babies is done using avirologic HIV test. Virologic HIV tests look directly or thepresence o HIV in the blood.

o be diagnosed with HIV, a baby must havepositive re-sults from two virologic HIV tests.

o know or certain that a baby is not infectedwith HIV,the baby must have two negative virologic HIV tests, therst at 1 month o age or older, and the second at least 1month later.

Babies who are HIV-inected receive a combination o anti-HIV medications to treat HIV. At 4 to 6 weeks o age, babies

inected with HIV also start a medication called Bactrim.(Bactrim is also given as a precaution when its not known ia baby is HIV inected or not.) Bactrim helps prevent Pneu-mocystis jirovecipneumonia (PCP), a type o pneumoniathat can develop in people with advanced HIV.

What is the best way to feed my baby?

Because HIV can be transmitted through breast milk, women




AZT: an anti-HIV medication in the nucleoside reversetranscriptase inhibitor (NRTI) class. AZT is also called zidovudine, Retrovir, or ZDV.

Virologic HIV test: a laboratory test that measures the

amount of HIV in a sample of blood.

Bactrim: an antibiotic used to prevent and treat infectionwith Pneumocystis jiroveciipneumonia (PCP). Bactrim isalso called Septra, Sulfatrim, Sulfamethoxazole/

Trimethoprim, or TMP-SMX.

Pneumocystis jirovecipneumonia (PCP): a lung infection

caused by a fungus that occurs in people with weakenedimmune systems.

Regimen: Anti-HIV medications are grouped intoclasses according to how they fight HIV. A regimen is acombination of three or more anti-HIV medications from

at least two different classes

CD4 count: CD4 cells, also called T cells or CD4+ T cells,are white blood cells that fight infection. HIV destroysCD4 cells, making it harder for the body to fight infections. A CD4 count is the number of CD4 cells in a sample of blood. A CD4 count measures how well the

immune system is working.

Viral load: the amount of HIV in the blood.

inected with HIV who live in the United States should notbreasteed. In the United States, inant ormula is a sae andhealthy alternative to breast milk. Although the risk is verylow, HIV can be transmitted to a baby through ood that waspreviously chewed (pre-chewed) by a mother or caretaker inected with HIV. o be sae, babies should not be ed pre-chewed ood.

Will my anti-HIV medications change after Igive birth?

Ater your baby is born, you and your health care providermay decide to stop or change your anti-HIVregimen. Tedecision to continue, change, or stop your anti-HIV medications will depend on several actors:

current expert recommendations on the use o anti-HIVmedications





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HIV and Pregnancy Women Infected with HIV and Their Babies After Birth

your CD4 countandviral load issues that make it hard to take medications exactly as di

rected

whether or not your partner is inected with HIV

the preerences o you and your health care provider

Dont stop taking any o your anti-HIV medications without

rst talking to your health care provider. Stopping your medications may limit the number o anti-HIV medications thatwill work or you and may cause your HIV inection toworsen.

Having a new baby is exciting! However, caring or a newbaby while dealing with the physical and emotional changesthat ollow childbirth can be stressul. It may be difcult totake your anti-HIV medications exactly as directed. I you eelsad or overwhelmed or have concerns about taking your medications, talk to your health care provider. ogether you canmake a plan to keep you and your baby healthy.

For more information:

Contact an AIDSinfo health inormation specialist at 18004480440 or visit http://aidsino.nih.gov. See your health careprovider or medical advice.



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