HIV and Pregnancy: Protecting Mother and Baby
Preventing Mother-to-Child Transmission
HIV does not have to be passed from mother to child. With proper antenatal care and antiretroviral therapy, the risk of mother-to-child transmission (MTCT) can be reduced to less than 1%. This is one of the greatest successes of modern HIV medicine.
HIV Testing During Pregnancy
Every pregnant woman in South Africa is offered an HIV test as part of routine antenatal care. For women who test HIV-positive:
- ART should be started as soon as possible — ideally on the same day
- Treatment continues throughout pregnancy, delivery, and breastfeeding
- Women already on ART should continue their regimen without interruption
Safe ART During Pregnancy
The choice of ART regimen during pregnancy is carefully considered to ensure both safety for the developing baby and effectiveness against HIV. Dr Chellan and Dr Lakay work together to provide integrated HIV and antenatal care at NeoHealth.
During Labour and After Birth
Labour Precautions
Certain precautions are taken during delivery to further reduce transmission risk.
Newborn Care
After birth, newborns receive:
- Antiretroviral prophylaxis (usually nevirapine syrup) for several weeks
- HIV testing at birth, six weeks, and at further intervals to confirm negative status
Breastfeeding and HIV
Breastfeeding is possible for HIV-positive mothers provided they remain on ART with a suppressed viral load. Your healthcare provider will guide you on the safest feeding approach based on your individual circumstances and viral load status.
Support and Disclosure
Disclosure of HIV status to a partner is an important aspect of care. NeoHealth offers counselling support for disclosure and can assist couples in accessing testing and treatment together. Pregnancy is a time of hope — with the right support, women living with HIV can look forward to a healthy baby and a bright future.