Xiao Li, infected with HIV, 24 years old: Doctor, I am infected with AIDS and am already taking medicine. Is it possible to have children? Will children be healthy?
Doctor: Like you, there are still many people who want children after infection, and some of them find out that they have already been infected with AIDS after having children. Don’t worry, listen to me slowly.
Xiao Li: Yes, yes, just now there was a little sister at the door who found positive only during the pregnancy test. Please tell me about it quickly.
How did the baby get infected with HIV?
Do you know? Almost all HIV babies in the world come from their mothers.
During pregnancy, mainly in the third trimester of pregnancy, HIV virus can infect the fetus through the placenta.
During the production process, when the baby passes through the mother’s birth canal, the blood and vaginal secretions contacting the mother are infected.
After delivery, HIV virus is transmitted through breast-feeding.
However, this is by no means to say that as long as the mother is infected with HIV virus, the baby will definitely be infected. Now that we already know the three ways of infection, we can carry out targeted prevention.
No matter the women of childbearing age who have already started antiviral treatment after infection, they hope to be pregnant and have children. Even mothers who are found infected only during the examination after pregnancy can actively do something to protect their babies from the virus.
If you still want a baby after infection, should you be a what?
The most important thing is to keep in touch with your attending doctor at all times and clearly tell him what you think now.
1. Infected mothers who have already started antiviral treatment
If it is a woman of childbearing age who wants to have children after infection, she must tell the doctor her pregnancy plan and never stop taking drugs without authorization. During the whole pregnancy process, she should listen to the doctor’s advice and receive treatment.
Doctors will adjust the treatment plan according to the actual situation and try to avoid using EFV during the first 3 months of pregnancy, because this drug may cause fetal malformation, and doctors will try to choose the treatment plan without EFV. However, if EFV regimen has been used for treatment and pregnancy is found only after 3 months of pregnancy, EFV may not be replaced.
In particular, all women who start taking antiviral drugs containing EFV should be reminded to take effective contraceptive measures to avoid unwanted pregnancy.
2. Infected mothers who have not yet started antiviral treatment
If it is only during pregnancy that HIV infection is found, regardless of the viral load and CD4 level, the doctor will first understand the mother’s physical condition, formulate an appropriate treatment plan for her, and start antiviral treatment as soon as possible.
According to the recommendation of < < National Handbook on Free AIDS Antiviral Drug Treatment * (2016 Edition) > > >, the preferred scheme is:
Zidovudine (AZT) + Lamivudine (3TC) + Lopinavir/Ritonavir (LPV/r, Crictus)
Before and during treatment, doctors will test blood to check hemoglobin, neutrophils and renal function. If there are inappropriate conditions, the treatment plan may be adjusted.
Can I also do some what to prevent the baby from getting infected?
The first step is to check on time and find problems as soon as possible.
According to our national regulations, all pregnant and lying-in women should be screened for HIV antibody when receiving maternal health care services for the first time, no matter at any time during pregnancy, during delivery or after delivery.
This is the first line of defense to protect the baby. Only when the problem is discovered as soon as possible can the doctor help the mother and the baby prevent worse things from happening as soon as possible. The earlier the discovery is made, the more secure the baby’s health will be and the lower the risk of infection will be.
The second step is to start appropriate antiviral therapy as soon as possible.
The so-called appropriate means that doctors will give appropriate treatment plans to different infected persons.
As mentioned earlier, if you have already started to take antiviral drugs and plan to become pregnant, doctors will try their best to choose a treatment plan that does not contain EFV.
If it is found infected mothers after pregnancy, according to our country < < national free AIDS antiviral drug treatment manual > >, to start antiviral treatment as soon as possible. Therefore, should go to the local AIDS designated hospital as soon as possible, such as care center, or designated maternal and child health care center.
There are not only antiviral treatment provided by professional doctors, but also guidance on pregnancy health care, postpartum infant feeding and other issues, as well as psychological support and comprehensive care services.
In the third step, the baby should be followed up to confirm safety.
Infected mothers should pay attention when giving birth, not at home!
Hospitalization can reduce the risk of infection for babies, because babies who give birth naturally will come into contact with blood and other secretions when passing through the mother’s birth canal, thus increasing the risk of infection.
Therefore, it is necessary to contact the hospital a little in advance and be admitted to the hospital as soon as possible for delivery.
In addition, after giving birth to the baby, the baby should be taken to the hospital for blood examination to ensure that he is fine.
At least one year old, you should go to the hospital again. If the result is negative, it means nothing. If it is positive, it needs to be reexamined by the age of one and a half. If it is still positive, the baby may be infected and needs to start treatment as soon as possible.
Parents all over the world hope that their babies and mothers can be safe and peaceful. They need more health help and must ask the doctor.