Being an HIV-positive mother-to-be does not guarantee that your child will be born HIV-positive. HIV transmission usually occurs during delivery, but can also before birth in the mother's womb. If an HIV-positive mother receives appropriate care throughout her pregnancy, including medication to lower the amount of virus in her blood, HIV may not spread to the child. Without treatments, risk of HIV transmission to the child is higher, but with medications taken regularly throughout the pregnancy, as well as delivery by Caesarian section, the risk of transmission is lowered dramatically - to about a 1-2% chance of transmission. It is important to note that all children are born with their mother's antibodies, and will therefore test positive on HIV antibody screening tests, regardless of their actual status. These antibodies will usually clear sometime between 6-18 months after birth, and viral load testing can be done around 6 months to determine the infant's actual status.
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