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Pregnancy and Parenting

Today, with advances in HIV treatment and care, people living with HIV in Canada can have healthy, HIV-negative babies.

Pregnancy & What You Need to Know

As part of Ontario's pre-natal care, women are offered an HIV test. Testing early in pregnancy, and after any subsequent risk activities, can be helpful to ensure early diagnosis and effective treatment, which can reduce the risk of transmitting HIV to the fetus. Sexually transmitted and blood borne infection (STBBI) testing can also be done at this time.

People living with HIV can have healthy pregnancies and deliver babies who are healthy and HIV negative. Trans women who are living with HIV can also get their partner pregnant without passing on HIV.

The earlier you get tested, the better the treatment outcomes. Beginning HIV treatment before or early in pregnancy plays a big part in reducing the risk of transmitting HIV to the fetus. Evidenceopens in a new window shows that if you start your HIV treatment before pregnancy and maintain an undetectable viral load throughout your entire pregnancy, you will not transmit HIV to your baby during pregnancy or delivery.

Support is important. Speak to a doctor with experience in HIV care before or early in your pregnancy so they can support you in your HIV treatment and care.  Talking to other women living with HIV who have been through this experience can be helpful too.

Talking to other women living with HIV who have been through this experience can be helpful.

For more information about planning a healthy pregnancy:

Infant Feeding

What You Need to Know

Breastfeeding (or chestfeeding) carries a risk of passing on HIV to the baby. Since there is some risk of transmission through breastfeeding, formula feeding is recommended in Canada. Ontario has a free formula program for women living with HIV. Click here for more information.opens in a new window

Recommendations in Canada are different than in other low resource countries where the risk of HIV transmission through breast or chest feeding may not be as great as the risks associated with a lack of access to formula and/or clean water. For more information about HIV transmission through breast/chest milk, click hereopens in a new window.

For comprehensive information on infant feeding and HIV, see:

HIV Disclosure & Children

Information for Parents Living with HIV

HIV-positive women have the choice to disclose their HIV status to their children as well as anyone in their children’s lives (schools, babysitters, friends, etc.)  This can be a complicated decision, but there are helpful resources that provide support.

CENTRING WOMEN'S EXPERIENCES

“When I had my baby I saw posters everywhere about the importance of breastfeeding. All the messages at the doctor’s office told me I was a bad person if I didn’t breastfeed. Then I had my obstetrician telling me that I wasn’t allowed to breastfeed because of having HIV. People would sometimes even comment on the street if I was bottle feeding. They thought I was a negligent mother. Some of my friends and family who don’t know I have HIV would judge me for bottle feeding.”


— A woman living with HIV (from Women, HIV & Stigma: A Toolkit for Creating Welcoming Spaces)

RESOURCES

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Is Formula Good for My Baby?

The Teresa Group and CATIE's resource on formula feeding for parents living with HIV.

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Having a Baby

CATIE's resource on pregnancy and infant feeding for people living with HIV.

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The Power of Undetectable

CATIE's resource on what you need to know about HIV treatment as prevention.

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Know Your Rights: Disclosure in School and Daycare

The Canadian HIV/AIDS Legal Network resource on laws regarding HIV disclosure in school and daycare settings.

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Know Your Rights: Disclosure, Privacy, and Parenting

The Canadian HIV/AIDS Legal Network's resource on laws regarding HIV disclosure, privacy, and parenting.