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Many women with HIV in New Zealand are choosing to become mothers
You are able to have children. You can reduce the chances of your baby getting HIV to below 1% by taking anti-retroviral treatment, and by not breastfeeding. Without these interventions the rates of HIV transmission is more than 25%. Since 1995, 83 children have been born negative to HIV positive mothers in New Zealand.
Key Factors
Your health, the level of CD4 and an undetectable viral load is a factor in the likelihood of transmission. A caesarean delivery can decrease the likelihood and bottle feeding. Good open dialogue with your Specialist and your Obstetrician is essential.
Ante-natal Screening
Testing is offered as part of your ante-natal care. New Zealand has successfully implemented this testing over the last 2 years with individual District Health Boards. All though it's thought to be unlikely to have a positive test, that if it happens, you and your baby will get the best care to protect the baby from infection and the mother will receive life-prolonging treatment. There have been children born in New Zealand with HIV, in 2009 alone, 3 children were diagnosed.
Children living with HIV
There are many complex issues for children living with HIV. If you have children living with HIV we recommend you talk to other positive women/men, contact Positive Women
and/or your Doctor for support. You are not alone, there are many children living with HIV in New Zealand in 2009 the AIDS Epidemiology Group recorded 52 children and young people living with HIV & AIDS.