Pregnant & Positive
If you are HIV-positive and pregnant, you can still deliver a healthy HIV-free baby. The most important step you can take for you and your baby is to seek out medical care as early in your pregnancy as possible.
Call the Illinois Perinatal HIV Hotline at 1-800-439-4079 as soon as possible to be referred to services in your area.
HIV-positive women who receive proper treatment throughout their pregnancies can give birth to babies without HIV. It is also important for women not to breastfeed because breast milk contains the HIV virus. Although early treatment gives the best chance for delivery of an HIV-free baby, there are steps that can be taken as late as labor and delivery to reduce the chances of passing HIV to the newborn.
We understand how overwhelming coping with this diagnosis can be. At the Hotline we are here 24/7 to help connect you to the care and treatment you need such as assistance finding specialized medical professionals in your area, transportation, food or housing and much more. There are medical centers and support programs throughout Illinois that specialize in the needs of HIV-positive pregnant women. Please call the Hotline 24/7 or visit our section on Enhanced Case Management for information about services available through this program exclusively for HIV positive pregnant women.
Click here to read about real-life stories of pregnant women with HIV.
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