HIV and Your Baby
Did you know…...
- There are over 3,000 women estimated to be living with HIV in South Carolina.
- And, more than eight of every ten women with HIV/AIDS in South Carolina are African American.
- About 100 HIV infected women have babies each year in South Carolina, but with care and treatment less than 10 babies each year actually get infected.
How do babies get HIV or AIDS?
If you have HIV you can pass the virus to your baby during pregnancy, during childbirth or by breast-feeding. Some babies with HIV get very sick and die before they are even a year old.
But there is good news. You can greatly lower the chances your baby will get HIV and AIDS by:
- using medicines your doctor may order, and
- not breast feeding your baby.
For some HIV infected women, having a C-section may also help her baby to not get HIV.
What can I do?
If you are pregnant or thinking of getting pregnant, get tested for HIV. It is important for your health and those you love.
HIV testing can tell if you are infected. If your test is positive, you can steps to help protect your baby and help keep yourself healthy. You can also take steps to prevent others from becoming infected.
If your test is negative, you can take actions to not get HIV.
If you have questions, call the South Carolina AIDS/STD Hotline at 1 - 800 - 322-AIDS.