If they are not infected, the mother's antibodies will gradually disappear and the babies will test negative after about 6 to 12 months. Instead of antibodies, these tests detect the HIV virus in the blood. Recent studies show that HIV-positive women who get pregnant do not get any sicker than those who are not pregnant. That is, becoming pregnant does not appear to be dangerous to the health of an HIV-infected woman. However, although AZT by itself can help protect newborns from HIV, it is not the best choice for the mother's health.
Combination therapies using at least three drugs are the standard treatment.
If a pregnant woman takes AZT by itself, she may get less benefit from combination therapy in the future. On the other hand, combination therapy might cause birth defects, especially during the first three months. Preliminary studies of pregnant women who used protease inhibitors show good results, with virtually no HIV-infected newborns and no unusual birth defects. A pregnant woman should consider all of the possible side effects of antiviral medications. Some of them could be worse for pregnant women.