R. Kelly must be smiling somewhere cuz 2007 is definitely BABY MAKING SEASON!
Between celebs, co-workers and women in the street, everybody and their momma seems 'bout to pop.
To relate this to the BV AIDS Blog, in many communities of color, many women find out that they are HIV-positive when they are pregnant, surely resulting in a bittersweet range of emotions during a most heady time.
Though HIV testing is not MANDATORY in pregnancy, it is recommended for pregnant women, and many doctors screen for HIV as a routine part of the pre-natal battery of tests.
This is called Opt-Out testing --the doctor informs the woman that he or she is doing an HIV test, and the woman will be tested unless she specifically declines.
The good news is that hardily any babies in the United States get HIV from their mothers anymore; once a woman is found to be HIV-positive in pregnancy, she can begin a course of medication that almost guarantees that the child will eventually be HIV-negative.
The drug used most often in pregnant women is AZT (other HIV medications have been shown to cause birth defects) started at 14-34 weeks, then given intravenously during labor and delivery, and finally to the newborn through six weeks of age. The baby is usually delivered by cesarean section and the mother doesn't breastfeed.
It's a shame that such a beautiful event may be besmirched with such shocking news, but the best news is that HIV does not have to affect the child -- at least in the United States.
For more on HIV and pregnancy click here.
Comments: (57)
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By: Veronica G. Hickman on 4/24/2007 1:58AM
AMEN! AND TO GOD BE THE GLORY!
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By: judyltt on 4/24/2007 6:23AM
I read the article on HIV and pregnancy. I was wondering can a person catch the virus through french kissing? And, is there any concrete proof they can not or could?
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By: paul on 4/24/2007 3:06PM
It's mortified to know that anybody is carrier of that disease.
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By: t.boogy on 4/25/2007 4:54PM
thats a beautiful thing and dcotors should make all pregnant females take the test for the sake of the child
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By: kendra on 4/26/2007 9:41AM
I think thats an good idea best to know now than later because being pregant is an hard enough job alone with all the emotions they go thru,I would want to know for the sake of my child and it's a damn shame we have people knowing that they are hiv positive but yet they still risk unborn childs life what is this world coming too.
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By: Katrina on 4/30/2007 9:18AM
Wives and girlfriends are often infected by their partners while not being aware of their partner's HIV status. Thank God, medication is in place to save these precious babies and their mothers.
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By: cha cha on 4/30/2007 9:19AM
Blaming one gender or the other is irelevent, everyone needs to be tested , thank god I've had all my fun . you young people dont know what you missed back in the day didnt have to know nothing about a person, just stick it in get it on HA HA
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By: Sha Sha on 4/30/2007 9:20AM
I have been HIV poz since 2000 & delivered a beautiful healthy HIV neg baby girl in June 2006. I was so scared when I found out I was pregnant but thanks to God & the power of antiviral meds my daughter & I are doing very well. She will continue to test for the virus until she is 18 mos old. All tests have been negative. God is soo good!! Amen.
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By: Nikki on 4/30/2007 9:20AM
I am so happy that your baby girl has tested negative for HIV,All Glory goes to GOD. If only the same medical treatment was available in other countries such as Africa. I was also curious is your child's father also HIV positive?
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By: ROSHELLE on 4/30/2007 9:20AM
HALLELUAH! IF WHEN MORE PEOPLE SEEK GOD AND PUT HIM FIRST THIS DEADLY DISEASE WILL BE WIPED OUT. TO GOD BE "ALL" THE GLORY!!!
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