Pregnancy and Newborns

HIV can be passed to a baby:

• During pregnancy
• During the birthing process
• During breast-feeding.

If you are thinking about getting pregnant, you should know your HIV status. HIV treatment is safe to take during pregnancy.

A three-part treatment regimen is very effective at preventing mother to child transmission of HIV:

1. the pregnant person takes medication during the pregnancy.
2. medication is given during the birthing process.
3. the baby is given medication after birth.

If you are pregnant, get prenatal care as soon as possible. HIV testing is conducted as early as possible in pregnancy and again in the third trimester. The sooner you know if you have HIV and start treatment the more you can do to stay healthy and protect your baby.

For more information about pregnancy and HIV, see:

• Important News for Pregnant Women - Brochure(9216)
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• Important News for New Mothers About Your Baby's HIV Test - Brochure(9257)
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