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Pregnancy and HIV:
Pregnant or Thinking about It?

If you are pregnant or thinking about becoming pregnant, you need to follow certain steps to ensure you'll have a healthy baby. One important step often overlooked by pregnant women is getting tested for HIV, the virus that causes AIDS. Even if you don't suspect that you have HIV, it is important to get an HIV test and find out for sure. Often, HIV is passed on to your baby during pregnancy, delivery, or through breastfeeding. HIV counseling and testing with consent for all pregnant women is currently the recommendation of the Public Health Service, and is now the standard of care for providing prenatal care to women. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) issued a statement in July 1999 which endorses the Institute of Medicine's (IOM) recommendation (Reducing the Odds: Preventing Perinatal Transmittal of HIV in the United States - IOM, October 1999) to make HIV testing a routine part of prenatal care by informing the woman that an HIV test will be conducted, and allowing her the opportunity to refuse taking the test. According to the AAP and ACOG statement, pretest HIV counseling may be provided, but should not serve as a barrier to HIV testing if counseling is not conducted. The Public Health Service is currently reviewing the IOM Report's recommendations and is expected to address their recommendations in guidelines to be published in late 1999 or early 2000.

Click here for more information about getting tested for HIV.

In addition to getting tested for HIV, the following are some other steps you can take while you are pregnant to help both you and your baby:

• Get prenatal care early in your pregnancy.
• Exercise regularly if your health care provider says it's okay.
• Eat healthy meals.
• Get enough rest.
• Practice safe sex by using condoms -- even during pregnancy.
• Do not drink alcoholic beverages; e.g., beer, wine, cocktails.
• Do not smoke.
• Do not use illegal drugs or other drugs not prescribed by your doctor.
• Tell your health care provider about any medicine you are already taking.
• Check with your health care provider before taking any new medicine.

Next:Getting Tested

This article was produced by the Health Care Financing Administration and Department of Health and Human Services.

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