Support while you are pregnant

If you are having a baby, you should expect and receive the same level of support from doctors and healthcare workers as women without HIV.

Your healthcare team will play a key role in helping you stay well while you are pregnant, and in preventing your baby being infected with HIV. Developing a good relationship with members of the team is a very important part of getting the best possible care.

There are many HIV support agencies which can provide information, advice and assistance to you at any point. To find out what’s available near you, a good place to start would be our Service Finder or one of the national helplines, such as THT Direct.

Or you could talk to one of the professionals you are currently receiving HIV services from. That might be someone at your clinic - such as a doctor, health adviser or nurse - a social worker, or an advice worker.

Talking to other HIV-positive women who have been through the experience can help you to make decisions about pregnancy, birth and looking after your baby’s health.

Many women only discover they have HIV soon after they find out they are pregnant.

Knowing you have HIV will allow you to take steps to look after your health and protect your baby, but it can be an overwhelming time. There can be mixed feelings, lots of new information to take on board and pressure to make decisions quickly about taking anti-HIV drugs.

It can be helpful to spend time talking things over with a doctor, nurse, midwife or someone from an HIV organisation. Hopefully you may also be able to talk to other women who have been in a similar situation. Feel free to ask lots of questions (and make sure they get answered).

If you are diagnosed with HIV while pregnant then you may need emotional support in coping with your diagnosis and information about transmission and treatments. Positively UK are a charity providing support to people living with HIV and can offer you friendly advice and support.