Protecting Unborn Child From HIV

 
HIV can be transmitted from mother to foetus through the placenta or during childbirth, and also through breast milk. The mechanism of this transmission is still not clearly understood. However viral load, which is the amount of virus in the mother’s blood, plays an important role. Anti Retroviral Therapy (ART) can reduce the viral load in the mother to low or undetectable levels. This greatly reduces the chances of transmission of the virus. There are different modalities of giving ART during pregnancy. You must consult your gynaecologist or an HIV clinic for further details. They will also be able to advise you about breast feeding and its alternatives.