The HIV virus can be passed on to the baby during pregnancy, childbirth and breastfeeding. Is there an effective way to prevent HIV transmission from mother to baby?
Mothers with HIV ( human immunodeficiency virus ) positive can transmit the virus to their babies. However, that doesn’t mean it can’t be anticipated. It is mandatory to know, there are several ways to prevent transmission of the HIV virus from mother to baby.
Vertical transmission from mother to child can occur during pregnancy, through the mother’s blood that crosses the placenta (placenta) and then into the fetal body, during delivery (when there is contact between the baby and the mother’s body fluids in the birth canal), and when the baby is born. born through breastfeeding.
Despite the facts mentioned above, don’t panic! Because, even though the mother is HIV positive, research says that vertical transmission only occurs in about 40 percent.
In addition, there are also several steps to prevent HIV transmission from mother to baby, which when implemented can reduce the transmission rate by up to 50 percent. Is it true that HIV / AIDS cannot be cured?
Tips to Prevent HIV Transmission from Mother to Baby
If a pregnant woman or nursing mother is HIV positive, take the following steps so that the virus does not infect the baby.
1. Early Detection
Early detection of HIV status is the most effective primary prevention measure. If the status is known, then other preventive measures can be taken as soon as possible.
Do voluntary, confidential, honest counseling, as well as blood tests as early as possible to detect HIV infection, especially for women of childbearing age.
If the test results are positive, then the next preventive measure is the administration of antiretroviral drugs (ARV). The goal is to suppress the amount of HIV virus in the body.
In this way, complications due to the HIV virus, namely acquired immunodeficiency syndrome ( AIDS ), which can reduce the quality of life and health, can be avoided.
2. Administering Antiretroviral Drugs
Until now, there is no drug that can really treat HIV. However, ARVs are the best choice to help suppress the development of the HIV virus in the body, so that health problems do not arise.
With early detection of HIV status in the mother, prophylactic ARV treatment (prevention) can be started immediately. Treatment can be done during pregnancy, childbirth, and postpartum as a way to prevent HIV transmission during pregnancy.
You don’t need to worry about taking ARVs while pregnant, because until now there have been no proven side effects in pregnancy.
Prophylactic ARVs can be started as early as 14 weeks of gestation, during delivery, and also in infants for 4-6 weeks after birth.
According to research, giving two or more types of combinations of ARV drugs is proven to reduce the vertical transmission rate during pregnancy, when also combined with other preventive measures as below.
3. Cesarean delivery
Cesarean section, also known as C-section or Caesarean delivery, is one of the measures to prevent HIV transmission to the baby. This procedure reduces direct contact between babies born with fluids and blood of HIV-positive mothers.
As is well known, one way of transmitting HIV is through contact with blood and body fluids, especially those in the reproductive area. In this case, what is meant is vaginal fluid or mucus.
Babies born vaginally are at risk of coming into contact with vaginal fluids when passing through the birth canal and causing injuries to the baby, who is at risk of having contact with the mother’s blood.
HIV Positive Mother, Is Breastfeeding Necessary?
As mentioned above, breast milk can be a medium for HIV transmission from mother to baby. In fact, breast milk is the baby’s main intake.
In developed countries such as the United States and countries in Europe, breast milk is no longer given to babies of HIV-positive mothers. This is because access to clean water and replacement intake for babies such as formula milk are guaranteed.
However, based on the Indonesian Pediatrician Association (IDAI), breastfeeding in developing countries—for socio-economic reasons—Breastfeeding can still be given with several considerations of profit and loss.
During breastfeeding, the mother is advised to continue taking ARV drugs regularly to reduce the amount of virus in the body. In addition, nipples should also be regularly moisturized after breastfeeding. Because, if it gets dry it can cause injury. So, these wounds can be a source of HIV transmission to the baby.
In addition, breast milk can be heated by means of flash heating or fast heating. The trick is to place breast milk in a container, place it in a pot of water, then heat it.
As soon as the water boils, immediately remove the milk and allow it to cool to body temperature. However, the safest is to first consult a pediatrician to reduce the risk of HIV transmission.
For more details about how HIV-positive mothers can safely breastfeed HIV-negative babies.
So, indeed, HIV can be passed on to babies. However, by taking the steps to prevent HIV transmission from mother to baby described above, the risk can be minimized.