The World Health Organisation (WHO) promotes exclusive breastfeeding for all babies (including babies of HIV positive women) for the first six months of life. This is now possible thanks to early HIV intervention during pregnancy, and taking antiretroviral therapy (ART) medication regardless of the mother’s CD4 (white blood cell) count. HIV-exposed babies receive drugs post-delivery to further prevent MTCT (mother-to-child transmission).
A pregnant woman owes it to herself, her partner and unborn baby to get tested for HIV early in her pregnancy. The advantage of early intervention if her test is positive is that the mother can learn how to maintain, and even improve, her state of health, while reducing the risk of HIV transmission to her unborn baby. ARTsthan two percent chance of transmitting HIV to her baby. If a woman does not receive treatment for HIV during her pregnancy, there is a 20 percent risk of HIV transmission to her baby, and if she does not receive treatment while breastfeeding, there is a further 20 percent risk of HIV transmission to the baby.
