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Having an HIV-negative baby

If you are pregnant, or you want to have a child, HIV treatment can allow you to have an HIV-negative baby. If you start HIV treatment before pregnancy and maintain an undetectable viral load throughout your pregnancy, you will not pass HIV to your baby during pregnancy or delivery. If you are not on treatment when you first get pregnant, starting HIV treatment as soon as possible dramatically lowers the chance of passing HIV to your baby.

When you tell your healthcare provider that you are planning to have a baby or you are pregnant, they will review your HIV meds to make sure they can be taken during pregnancy.

Try to find an obstetrician who you trust and feel comfortable talking to honestly. It is a good idea to look for an obstetrician who has experience with HIV care. However, this might not be possible if you live in a small town or rural community.

To reduce the chance of HIV passing to your baby, Canadian guidelines recommend:

  • taking HIV treatment before you get pregnant and during pregnancy and labour
  • giving HIV meds to your baby for a short time after birth
  • feeding your baby formula, and not breastfeeding (chestfeeding), because HIV can be passed through breast milk even if the parent is on successful HIV treatment

Talk to a healthcare provider you trust if you wish to breastfeed (chestfeed) or if you have questions about infant feeding as there is still a very small chance of HIV transmission even when you have an undetectable viral load. If you choose to breastfeed (chestfeed) your baby, you and your baby will need support from a healthcare provider to do so as safely as possible.