HIV Consultant Interview Question:

Tell me can a woman who has HIV pass the virus to her baby?

Submitted by: Muhammad

Yes. A woman who has HIV can pass the virus to her baby during:

• pregnancy;
• delivery; or
• breastfeeding.

There are medicines that women with HIV should take during pregnancy, labor, and delivery and that can be given to their babies just after birth, to greatly reduce the chance that their babies will become infected with HIV. It is best for women to know their HIV status before they become pregnant or very early in their pregnancy so that they can make informed decisions and take full advantage of these medicines. Since HIV is also found in breast milk, women with HIV should not breastfeed their babies.
Submitted by: Muhammad