Tell me about...HIV/AIDS

lilmufish

I am familiar with HIV/AIDS in adults...But not children born to parents who are HIV positive.

For those who have adopted or those who are doing foster care to adopt, have you been open to a child who was exposed, or was born to an HIV positive mother?

If so, what are the risks / what happens with that?  Can you share stories or any information?  DH asked me about that earlier today...Sadly, I don't have an opinion yet, and I didn't have alot of information to share with him. 

lilmufish

Thank you! This is exactly what i was looking for.  Fred, you're awesome!

ColoRxGirl

Ditto what Fred said.

When antiretroviral (anti-HIV) therapy is used correctly in pregnancy, maternal-fetal HIV transmission rates are below 1%.

It's funny this came up - we actually got an e-mail at work today about a patient's birth plan as she is HIV positive.  She and her newborn will both need medications while they are here.  Our local Children's hospital is also assisting with home meds for baby after they go home.  My understanding is that these patients typically have c-sections to control risk of blood exposure to the newborn.  The mom will have IV medication throughout delivery and baby will start oral meds when a few hours old.  Babies usually receive an oral liquid med 4 times a day.

517butterfly

Our baby was born to an HIV+ mother.  BM went through all of the proper precautions during pregnancy and birth (proper medication and DD was delivered via C-section).  DD also took anti-virals for the first 6 weeks post-birth.  She had to undergo two blood tests that had to both come back negative before she was deemed HIV-.  Her first test was at birth and her second was at 6 weeks and they were both negative.  She has to have a 3rd at 5 months just as protocol (very VERY slim chance that it would come back postive).  I hope this helps!