Prioritizing the mother's health before, during and after pregnancy is the most important step toward good health for both mother and child. The risk of transmission can be significantly reduced, but so far, no study has shown a way to eliminate it completely. It's important to remember what factors you have control over and can do something about, and what factors are truly out of your hands. For these women, it's important to acknowledge how easy it is to become paralyzed by the overwhelming information and the flurry of emotions. Take a step back and truly take a moment to think about who you turn to and where you go for support.
Support is out there.
You may just have to look a little harder for it. Finally, anti-HIV medications are very effective in preventing vertical transmission in the United States and Western Europe. However, with the prohibitive price of these drugs, it's unlikely that these regimens will be made widely available to pregnant women in the poorest countries. There's still a great need for safe, inexpensive and effective regimens to prevent vertical transmission in these countries, as well as realistic alternatives to breast-feeding. This government-sponsored hotline provides information on women's health issues, including HIV and pregnancy.