Health & Human services

During pregnancy, childbirth, and breastfeeding, HIV can be passed to your baby, known as perinatal transmission. Understanding the risks and taking preventative measures are essential in protecting both pregnant person and baby. Below are some helpful tips to know if you are living with HIV and plan to get pregnant, throughout your pregnancy, and after delivery.

Planning Pregnancy

• Find an HIV Healthcare Provider. Finding the right provider who is supportive of you and your plans of getting pregnant is important. Your healthcare provider can guide you through prenatal care and treatment plans specifically for you to reduce the risk of perinatal transmission (mother-to-baby transmission). 
• Get screened. It is important to get screened before pregnancy for not only HIV, but all other sexually transmitted infections to prevent any transmission of infections to your baby. Your partner should also be getting screened.
• Avoid substance use. Any consumption of alcohol, drugs, or smoking can harm your baby which can lead to miscarriages and stillbirth.

During Pregnancy

• Visit your HIV Healthcare Provider regularly. Your provider can monitor your health, adjust your medications, and prepare you for delivery. Regular screening is important to ensure your HIV remains well-managed, protecting both you and your baby.
• Take HIV Treatment as prescribed. HIV treatment reduces the amount of HIV in the body (also known as viral load) to a very low level. This is called viral suppression or an undetectable viral load. Getting and keeping an undetectable viral load is the best thing you can do to stay healthy and prevent transmission to your baby. If your viral load is high, HIV is detectable in your body, which can result in passing the virus. If medication is not taken regularly, the virus can become resistant to it. If this occurs, the medication won't be as effective which can lead to increasing the risk of passing the virus to your baby.
• The risk of transmitting HIV to your baby can be 1% or less if you:
  • Take HIV treatment as prescribed throughout pregnancy and delivery.
  • The provider will prescribe HIV medication to be given to your baby for 6 to 12 hours after birth and continued for 4 to 6 weeks. This medication can protect your baby from any HIV exposures that may have occurred during birth.

Labor & Delivery

• Continue to take HIV Treatment as prescribed. During labor and delivery, you can pass HIV in your blood and other fluids. It is important to continue to take HIV treatment as prescribed.
• Talk to your Ob-gyn regarding your birth options. If your HIV viral load is not low enough, a cesarean delivery can help prevent HIV transmission to your baby during labor and delivery.

After Delivery

• Continue getting HIV treatment. Discuss your medication with your OB-GYN or HIV specialist after the baby is born. You can find healthcare professionals and clinics that focus on treating people with HIV.
• Take care of your mental health. Welcoming a new baby can bring joy, but it can also be stressful. Taking care of yourself might become more difficult after childbirth. If you are having difficulty taking your medications as directed, or just need some extra support, talk with your partner, family members, friends, or HIV care provider about getting help.
• Do not breastfeed or pre-chew food to your baby. During breastfeeding, breast milk can transmit the virus to the baby. The only option that eliminates risk of postnatal transmission of HIV to the baby is by using infant formula or pasteurized donor human milk.
• Give anti-HIV medication to your baby after birth. It is important to make sure your baby gets treated for HIV after birth to reduce your baby's chances of getting HIV. Talk to your provider about a treatment plan for your baby.
• Maintain regular testing for your baby. Monitoring your baby's HIV status is important to reduce the risk of HIV. Talk to your provider for more information on testing.

If you are living with HIV & need to seek a perinatal HIV specialty center in Long Beach. Please contact any of the following locations:

• The Bickerstaff Pediatric Family Center at Miller Children’s & Women's Hospital Long Beach
  Address: 2865 Atlantic Ave., Suite 152 Long Beach, CA 90806
  Hours of Operation: Monday – Friday, 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
  Phone: (714) 377-6993
• Harbor-UCLA Medical Center
  Address:1000 West Carson St. Torrance, CA 90501
  Hours of Operation: Monday – Friday, 8 am – 5 pm
  Phone: (310) 222-3813