Your baby will be tested at birth using a viral load test, which detects the genetic material that makes up HIV rather than the antibodies that the body produces against it. The test will be repeated after six weeks and again after twelve weeks. The babies of HIV-positive mothers often have their mother’s antibodies to HIV so the antibody test used for adults has no value for young babies in the first 18 months or so of their lives.

Provided your baby is formula-fed there should be no further risk of infection after birth. It is completely safe to kiss, cuddle, change nappies, and otherwise take care of your baby.

 

Babies should go ahead with all their normal immunisations except BCG (to prevent tuberculosis). BCG should only be given after all the PCR tests are found to be negative, so after 3-4 months of age.

 

All babies who may have a greater risk of infection (for example, if they are born prematurely before their mother started anti-HIV treatment) should received co-trimoxazole (Septrin) prophylaxis against the very severe PCP pneumonia. This should be started at four weeks of age and continued until all the viral load tests are found to be negative.

 

Doctors are currently trying to find out more about the risks of mothers passing on HIV to their babies and which are the best ways to stop this happening, so you might be asked to take part in a clinical trial designed to answer these questions. Participation is voluntary, and completely confidential and it will not affect your treatment or care if you say no. To find out more about clinical trials see the booklet Clinical Trials in this series.