This is happening – six weeks to go!
Welcome, Hannah* - 33 weeks pregnant
with her first baby, age 36, HIV positive with a positive attitude in life. This
special lady is going to share the last leg of her pregnancy with us.
When Hannah was diagnosed with the
Human Immuno-Deficient Virus (HIV) 15 years ago, she thought that getting
pregnant “would never happen to me”. She was overwhelmed with the stigma
attached to this viral infection. At the time she thought HIV would rob her of
a “normal life”. “This pregnancy has shown my partner and I that we’re as
normal as any other couple,” Hannah said in an interview.
The road to this point hasn’t been
easy. When Hannah tested positive, she started anti-retroviral treatment. By
sticking to a rigorous medication regime and healthy habits, like eating
healthy and exercising regularly, Hannah focused on her career and living
positively. Her persistence, patience and perseverance over the last ten years
has resulted in an undetectable viral load and a healthy CD4 count.
Cape Town based HIV clinician; Dr Laurence confirmed
in a medical webinar that modern ARV’s have changed the lives of people living
with HIV. “Having an undetectable viral load reduces the risk of transmission
by up to 96%”, he said. Although neither a cure nor a vaccine has been found, ongoing
research in the field of gene therapy and injectable ARV’s is promising.
Research for an HIV vaccine helped to develop the Covid-19 vaccine.
To date, Hanna’s pregnancy – apart
from setbacks like Covid restrictions and retrenchment – has gone smoothly. “Now
that I’m not working, I’ve been able to escape corporate stress, spend time at
home with family and look after my health,” she said.
Understanding viruses like HIV and Covid-19:
A virus on its own is weak. It cannot move, jump, slip, slide, grow or multiply.
It’s absolutely helpless and, unlike a bacteria or fungus, without a host, it
simply dies. BUT, once it gets into a host (human or animal) through the nose
and mouth (as with Covid) or body fluids (HIV), it’s super powerful. This
sneaky virus latches onto immune white cells (CD4) where it changes DNA into
its own RNA, enabling it to multiply. The result is an increased viral load that
damages the immune system (low CD4 count). Taking ARV’s helps to stop the
multiplication of the virus and keep it under control. Providing a person living
with HIV is taking their medicines regularly and without a break, the viral
load can be kept low, even ‘undetectable’.
‘Let’s be
real’ decisions:
Now that Hannah has only six weeks
to go, it’s time to face the reality of giving birth. Her gynaecologist said
that, although it is possible to have a vaginal birth with HIV, in Hanna’s
circumstances, it will be best if her baby girl, is delivered by c-section.
Luckily, Hannah did not have her heart set on a ‘birth plan’, preferring to put
her trust in the decisions made by her specialists. A booked c-section can help
to eliminate risks like prolonged labour, haemorrhaging, exposure to Covid and
interfering with Hanna’s healthy immune system.
Hannah’s paediatrician has also
recommended formula feeding.
“I don’t want to have to feel
guilty or explain to people why I have been booked for a c-section, or why we
will be stocking up on formula,” Hannah said. “Everybody’s circumstances are
different, and I trust my health-care providers who only want to the best for me
and my baby girl.”
Right now, Hannah is enjoying good
health, admittedly skipping yoga and spending more time on the couch than she
intended, enjoying feeling her baby-girl move within her belly, and looking
forward to the day when her carefully prepared nursery will be home to a very
special little girl just waiting to make her grand entrance!
*Not her real name.
