Unfortunately, in recent years, HIV infectionhas become very widespread. But, despite the fact that the treatment of HIV infection is still only partially susceptible, the life span of a sick person is quite high - up to 15 - 20 years. And therefore, it is not surprising that many HIV-infected women have a desire to have a baby, especially if they still do not have children. Someone condemns such a desire of sick women, someone supports. However, the fact remains, regardless of how others treat it - the birth of a child is the choice of a woman who wants to leave a trace. And this her choice is her right, because only a woman can take responsibility for the life and health of her child. However, many HIV-infected women do not stop this - HIV and pregnancy go hand in hand not so rare as it might seem at first glance. And in some cases, a woman decides to give birth from an HIV-infected man. However, the expectant mother should never forget that pregnancy in the presence of HIV infection is radically different from everyone else. The birth of a healthy child is quite realistic, but for this future mother will have to make a lot of efforts. But what will the mother do for the sake of her child's health? This is exactly what will be discussed below.
Conception of a child in a HIV positive couple
Care for the health of the child must begin withfrom the very beginning - from conception. Proper conception can significantly reduce the risk of infection of the baby. The fact that a child can be infected with HIV during pregnancy, childbirth or breastfeeding is known to everyone. But very few people know that it is impossible to infect a child from a father who has HIV infection, since the virus does not penetrate into the sperm. Both the egg and the spermatozoa are absolutely sterile - they contain nothing but the nutrients necessary for the development of the fetus, as well as the genetic information of the parents. But this is only one side of the coin. As is known, spermatozoa are in a biological fluid - in the seminal, in which the concentration of the immunodeficiency virus is highest. And this means that an infected man with a very high probability of transmission can transmit the virus to a healthy woman. And even if the woman is not scared, she must remember that she, in turn, can infect the future crumbs. And even if both partners are infected, unprotected sex for pregnancy is also extremely dangerous. Once in the human body, the virus of immunodeficiency is mutated. And with unprotected intercourse, partners infect each other repeatedly, each with its own version of the virus. In addition, in such a situation the risk of transmission of the virus from mother to child, so it's still not worth the risk. To avoid these complications, modern medicine offers several methods of alternative conception for couples where one or both partners of HIV are infected. Such methods include:
- A couple in which a woman is infected
In the event that HIV is infected in a pairwoman, the most optimal and safe option is artificial insemination (not to be confused with artificial insemination). During the ovulation period - approximately on the 13th - 14th day of the menstrual cycle, during the release of a mature egg from the ovary, in the woman's vagina the doctor inserts the pre-collected seminal fluid into the woman's vagina.
- A couple in which a man is infected
In the event that a man is infected with a couple,doctors offer several options. The least frequently used sexual contact, which is not protected by a condom. For this pair with the help of physicians should carefully plan the time of ovulation - when the egg is out of the ovary and ready for fertilization. The day should be established precisely in order to maximize the chances of fertilization, as each repeated unprotected sexual intercourse at times increases the risk of infection of a woman. Before such a method of fertilization, the sexual partners should be carefully examined for the presence of certain diseases, and if necessary, treat them. In addition, doctors will conduct special therapy, which will reduce the risk of infection of women several times - this is a very important measure of preparation for conception. The second way to conceive in this situation is to cleanse the sperm and direct insertion into the vagina on a certain day of the menstrual cycle, when the egg is ready for fertilization. This method of fertilization is one of the most safe for a woman and a future child, therefore doctors recommend couples in whom the husband is HIV-infected, this is the way of conception.
The beginning of pregnancy
So, the couple got it and the woman is pregnant. Then begins the period of no less importance for the health of the future baby - the pregnancy itself. The future mother should contact the nearest AIDS center as soon as possible. Specialists of this center will appoint the future mother all the necessary studies, put the woman on the register, give out a number of pharmacological drugs that will help reduce the risk of HIV transmission from mother to child. In addition to monitoring at the AIDS center, the expectant mother should register for pregnancy as soon as possible. Of course, during the first visit you will have to tell your doctor - gynecologist about your disease, but remember that your doctor is your main ally in the struggle for the health of the child. So try to build a good relationship with your doctor. Do not take hostile questions or advice from a doctor - understand one thing: no one will condemn you, and all questions the doctor asks only to help you and your child. As a rule, the doctor directs the expectant mother to a number of standard pregnancy tests. These include: a general analysis of blood and urine, the determination of blood sugar, ultrasound. However, in addition to this survey of an HIV-infected future mother, it is usually necessary to take blood tests that will determine the viral load and the immune status of the pregnant woman. These studies are vital - on their basis the doctor will be able to assess not only the behavior of the virus and the status of the immune status, but also to understand what the general condition of the organism of the future mother. Based on these data, the doctor will be able to determine the further tactics of antiretroviral therapy. In addition, in the event that the pregnancy was not planned and the woman did not undergo a full examination of the body before conception, the doctor will give her tests that will show whether the mother's future has sexually transmitted diseases and blood tests for hepatitis. In addition, the doctor will take a smear to determine the microflora of the vagina. A woman should in no case ignore the regular visit of a gynecologist and strict compliance with all his requirements. Otherwise, there is a certain risk of premature birth. And premature birth significantly increases the likelihood of infection of a child with HIV. 
Medical procedures during pregnancy
Most of the doctors - gynecologists and virologistsit is rightly believed that the HIV infected pregnant woman should be protected as much as possible from various kinds of medical procedures. Of course, we are talking about those procedures that are somehow associated with a violation of the integrity of the skin and mucous membranes, and even more so with the invasion of the uterine lining. All these activities greatly increase the risk of mother-to-child transmission of HIV infection. As a rule, all such procedures for pregnant women are usually prescribed for the purpose of diagnosing certain malformations and genetic diseases in the fetus. And if in the case of normal pregnancy, such studies are almost completely safe for both mother and future baby, an HIV-infected woman is very at risk during such procedures. Therefore, if a woman has any concerns, she should consult a geneticist before the pregnancy. However, if an HIV-infected pregnant woman is prescribed similar procedures, she has every right to ask the doctor to explain what caused this need, whether it is possible to replace these procedures with other methods of research, for example, by ultrasound that does not require penetration into the uterus. In the same case, if for any reason, to refuse such procedures is not possible, the pregnant woman should ensure that the doctor mandatory before the intervention appointed a test for viral load, by which the level of the virus in the blood is determined. In addition, an additional course of antiretroviral therapy is needed, which will help to significantly reduce the likelihood of infection of the child.
What should I look for?
There are several main pointswhich an HIV-infected woman should pay special attention to. The main points are opportunistic infections. For a pregnant woman with HIV infection, any disease is a serious threat. However, the most undesirable are the so-called opportunistic infections, which are typical for immunodeficiency and are nothing else but an indicator of the progression of the disease. The ways of preventing such infections are described below:
- Pets
Very many pets are oftensources of infection. Even if the animal looks healthy, it can be a carrier of certain pathogenic bacteria and viruses. Therefore, if the future HIV-infected mother has pets, she should instruct the members of her family to take care of them and regularly examine the animal from the veterinarian.
- Environment and nutrition of the future mother
A future mother should be very careful with water. First, in no case it is inadmissible to consume raw water - only boiled or bottled. Secondly, during pregnancy it is necessary to avoid swimming in natural water bodies, because there may be a sufficiently large number of microbes. It is equally important to exclude the contact of the pregnant woman with the soil, avoid contact with agricultural animals, for example, with cows, sheep and goats. It is equally important to abandon raw dairy products and eggs. All products must be purchased only in specially designated places, avoiding spontaneous markets.
- Regular visit to doctors
It is very important for an HIV-infected future mothertimely and regularly observed with all necessary specialists. What kind of specialists - in each specific case is solved individually, depending on what are the available concomitant diseases. But the specialists of the AIDS center and the gynecologist are on this list strictly obligatory. As a rule, in the normal course of pregnancy in the first half of the woman should visit the above specialists twice a month, and then as often as the doctors deem necessary. In the event that the pregnancy is normal, hospitalize the expectant mother in the maternity hospital about two weeks before the expected date of delivery. In the same case, if there are any abnormalities during pregnancy, hospitalization can be made at any time when the doctor deems it necessary. To refuse from hospitalization in any case is inadmissible - in fact at presence of a HIV infection the risk of development of various complications increases in times. 
Features of the course of HIV as a result of the effect of pregnancy
It has long been scientifically proven that duringpregnancy is always a significant decrease in the work of the immune system - this is necessary so that the woman's body does not reject the fruit. And it is only natural that an HIV-infected woman experiences how the pregnancy will affect her already weakened immune system. Many believe that this natural change in the immune system can accelerate the development of HIV infection and worsen the course of the disease. However, numerous and long-term observations of the course of the disease in HIV-infected pregnant women indicate that there is no progression of the disease during the period of gestation. Moreover - it is inexplicable, but the fact - more than half of the women's state of the immune system improved after pregnancy several times. However, of course, only on the condition that the future mother receives all the necessary treatment. Also you can not ignore such a sensitive question as the ways and likelihood of infection of the child. In the event that the pregnant woman does not take any preventive measures, the probability that the child will be infected is about 40-50%. There are several ways to transmit HIV from mother to child - during pregnancy, childbirth and even during breastfeeding.
- Infection during pregnancy
In some cases, the motherThrough the placenta can penetrate to the fetus. Normally, the placenta must protect the baby from various mothers in the bloodstream, including HIV. But in the event that for some reason the placenta is damaged or involved in the inflammatory process, its protective function is greatly reduced, and HIV can penetrate the mother's body into the fetus.
- Infection during childbirth
There are two ways to infect a child withthe time of delivery. First, the child during the passage of the birth can get the virus in the event that on his skin or mucous membranes there are minor abrasions or sores. Or the child can swallow the vaginal secret and the blood of the infected mother during the delivery. And through the mucous membrane of the stomach and intestines, HIV can get into the blood of the child.
- Infection during breastfeeding
In the case of breastfeeding, a child maycatch both directly through breast milk, and through the blood in the event that the mother appears cracks on the nipples. The risk of infection of a child during breastfeeding is approximately 40%. Therefore, often doctors suggest immediately after birth to transfer the child to artificial feeding. This is much safer than breastfeeding in this case.
Risk factors for infecting a baby
Doctors share factors that significantly affect the level of risk of HIV infection in a child, into three main groups:
- Maternal factors
One of the most important factors is the viralload of the mother's body. The higher the woman's viral activity, the higher the risk of infection of the child with human immunodeficiency virus. Another important factor is the immune status of a woman. The lower the blood content in the pregnant woman's immune cells, the greater the likelihood that the child also becomes infected. In addition, a significant role is played by the lifestyle of an HIV-infected pregnant woman. For example, all bad habits, such as smoking, drinking alcohol, significantly worsen the state of the immune system, which means that the risk of transmission of the human immunodeficiency virus to the child also rises at times. In addition, the presence of a woman with various infections of the genitals is very unfavorable. In order to reduce the risk of mother-to-child transmission of immunodeficiency virus, doctors use special antiretroviral therapy.
- Obstetric and gynecological factors
There are also certain gynecologicalfactors. One of the first such factors is the premature discharge of amniotic fluid. In the event that the anhydrous period is more than three hours, the risk of infection of the child with human immunodeficiency virus increases by approximately 40%. And then every subsequent hour of anhydrous period increases the risk of transmission of the virus by ten percent.
- Fetal factors
From the physiological characteristics of the child alsothe risk of transmission of the immunodeficiency virus depends. For example, the weight of a newborn baby plays a very important role - the lower the baby's body weight, the more likely that the virus can penetrate the baby's body. And it's not surprising - if a child has a small weight (less than 2500 grams), his immune system is not well developed, and the protective reaction of mucous membranes and skin is also very weak. All these factors together lead to an increased risk of infection of the child with the immunodeficiency virus. The same is true for preterm labor - the earlier births occurred, the weaker the immune system is developed in the child. In addition, doctors note the following feature - if an HIV-infected woman has two babies. At the first crumb the risk of becoming infected with the virus is much higher. This is explained by the fact that the child, passing the birth canal first, has a longer contact with the mother's biological fluids - blood and vaginal secretions. In most cases, if a pregnant woman is HIV-infected, doctors decide to perform a cesarean delivery. This method reduces the risk of infection of a child with HIV by approximately 45%. It goes without saying that in this case we can only talk about the planned caesarean section, which the future mother will be prepared by the doctors in advance and systematically. If done correctly, the risk of transmission of the virus is not more than 3%, which is a very good indicator. Thus, our readers can see for themselves that the birth of a healthy child in a woman infected with the immunodeficiency virus is quite realistic. However, to do this, future mothers with the father should closely cooperate with doctors - gynecologists and specialists from AIDS centers. Doctors will help you choose the appropriate antiretroviral therapy regimen for your mother, as well as the necessary preventive course for a newborn baby. In order for all measures to prevent the transmission of the immunodeficiency virus from mother to child are actually effective, parents should very carefully follow all the recommendations of doctors. Especially acute is the use of pharmacological drugs - a clear and precise treatment scheme is very, very important to achieve the desired positive result. In the event that the future mother will not only miss the intake of certain medications, but even just break the time intervals, the effectiveness of treatment will decrease at times. However, pregnancy and HIV infection still do not exclude each other. So remember that if you really want something, it will come true. And your baby will delight you for many more years. After all, you can hardly find something more expensive than a child's smile and laughter! We advise you to read:
