As a general rule, treatment for HIV infection in pregnant women is the same as for others who are not pregnant. You should have a Pap test during your pregnancy, and your doctor will probably recommend a CD4 count as soon as prenatal care begins. Depending on the results, you may not need another CD4 count during your pregnancy. If you become infected with the TB germ while you are pregnant, your doctor can give you medicine, and chest x-rays may be used with proper precautions. If you are pregnant and have syphilis, you will need special care.
Babies born to women with untreated syphilis can become seriously ill or die.
Your immune system may work differently during pregnancy, so your doctor will watch you closely. After birth, your baby should be tested regularly for HIV infection, whether or not HIV is present at birth. The baby also should be tested for syphilis, even if you were treated during pregnancy. Because HIV infection can be passed through breast milk, you should not breastfeed your baby. This means the infection, and likely AIDS as well, will be a part of your family's future.