If you are HIV-positive and pregnant, or thinking about having a baby, it is important to know that you can pass on HIV to your baby during pregnancy, or during delivery, or by breastfeeding.

However, anti-HIV treatment can greatly reduce the risk of you passing on HIV infection to your baby. In addition, many mothers choose to have their babies delivered through an operation (a caesarean birth) as this can further reduce the risk. Exclusive formula feeding is strongly recommended for all babies born to HIV-positive mothers in the UK.

A number of factors can make it more likely that you will pass on HIV to your baby.

These include:

• Being ill because of HIV.
• Having a high HIV viral load or a low CD4 cell count.
• Your waters breaking four or more hours before delivery.
• Having an untreated sexually transmitted infection when you give birth.
• If you used recreational drugs, particularly injected drugs during pregnancy.
• If you have a vaginal delivery (rather than a caesarean delivery) when you have a detectable viral load.
• If you have a difficult delivery, for example forceps need to be used.
• If you breastfeed.