If you are pregnant and living with HIV, it is possible to have a safe pregnancy and give birth to an HIV-negative baby. With the right care, the risk of passing HIV to your baby can be reduced to almost zero.
If you are experiencing any symptoms such as fever, rash, sores, or suspect you may have been exposed to HIV or other infections, you can get personalised advice and treatment from licensed doctors through Hope Plus to start treatment early and avoid complications.
Routine HIV and Syphilis Testing
During your antenatal visits (ANC), you and your partner will be offered routine HIV testing and syphilis testing, with results available on the same day. These tests are important because syphilis and HIV can both harm you and your baby if left untreated.
If you test positive for syphilis, your doctor will give you the correct treatment to prevent passing it to your baby. The most common treatment is an injection of benzathine penicillin. If you are allergic to penicillin, your doctor will use safe alternatives like erythromycin or ceftriaxone.
HIV Prevention and Support
- If you test HIV positive, you will be linked to free HIV treatment (ART) right away, whether you are pregnant, in labour, or breastfeeding.
- If you are HIV negative but your partner is HIV positive, you may be offered medicine called PrEP to protect you from getting HIV.
- If you are HIV negative, you will be tested again in the third trimester, during labour, or soon after delivery, as HIV can be acquired during pregnancy.
Hepatitis B Screening
You and your partner will also be tested for Hepatitis B during pregnancy. If you test positive, your doctor may check your viral load (how much of the virus is in your blood) and start treatment if needed to prevent passing the virus to your baby.
General Antenatal Care
All pregnant women, whether HIV positive or not, should attend at least eight ANC visits. During these visits, you will:
- Receive iron, folic acid, multivitamins, and deworming medicine in the second trimester
- Be assessed for nutrition and given advice on a healthy diet
- Have your weight and blood pressure checked
- Be screened for other infections like TB, malaria, hepatitis, and urinary tract infections
- Be encouraged and supported to deliver in a health facility where skilled health workers can assist you
Special Care for HIV-Positive Mothers
If you are HIV positive, extra tests will be done, including:
- Viral load (VL) test to check how well your HIV treatment is working
- CD4 count (in some cases)
- Regular haemoglobin (Hb) tests if you are on AZT-based ART
Your doctor will also screen you for opportunistic infections, TB, and other conditions, and give preventive medicines if you are at risk.
HIV Treatment During Pregnancy
If you are newly diagnosed with HIV, you will be started on lifelong antiretroviral therapy (ART) the same day. Most women in Uganda receive a once-daily combination of TDF + 3TC + DTG, which is safe and very effective.
If you were already on HIV treatment before pregnancy, your doctor will check your viral load. If it is suppressed (very low), you will stay on the same medicine. If not, your treatment may be adjusted to ensure the virus is well controlled.
Adherence (taking your medicine every day without missing doses) is very important. This keeps you healthy and prevents passing HIV to your baby during pregnancy or breastfeeding.
Risk Assessment for Your Baby
At your first antenatal visit, the health team will assess whether your baby is at higher risk of HIV infection. High-risk pregnancies include:
- Starting ART late in pregnancy
- Having a high viral load
- Testing positive for HIV late in pregnancy or during breastfeeding
If your pregnancy is considered high risk, your doctor will closely monitor you and may give your baby extra protection after birth.
Visit Schedule
If you are stable on HIV treatment (viral load suppressed, good adherence, no major illnesses), your ANC visits will be synchronised with your ART refills.
If you are newly starting ART or your viral load is not suppressed, you may need more frequent visits, sometimes every two weeks until things are stable.
