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Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

Original poster

HIV Testing in Pregnancy??

55 replies

magnolia1 · 31/05/2006 22:00

Have you?

Had all the tests in previous pg's so why gain??

Worried my midwife will whinge at me but I really don't see the point.

Views please

OP posts:
Securlurking · 01/06/2006 22:32

Kathy1972 - if you see the post below there are more ways than one to be exposed to it.

IMO, a little blood is better than risking my buba, no matter how slim the risk. They wouldn't offer it if there was no point to it.

Kathy1972 · 02/06/2006 10:50

Securlurking, yes I am perfectly aware of how one can get exposed to HIV, but I also know what my husband and I have been up to in the last 18 months so unless you're suggesting I can catch it from toilet seats I don't think I need to be worried Smile

Securlurking · 02/06/2006 11:16

Grin ok, don't get all defensive on me.

I just meant that lots of people have got caught in scares such as described below when previously they would have sworn blind there was no chance they had been at risk. It is just not always obvious at first glance is all I was saying.

blueshoes · 02/06/2006 12:19

yes, for first and second. I'd want to have that peace of mind for my and baby's sake.

cupcakes · 02/06/2006 12:39

I gave my blood samples two weeks ago and yesterday got a call from the surgery 'about the blood tests'. Of course my remaining blood went cold and the receptionist hurridly told me that there had been a problem with testing it (a form hadn't been filled in correctly) and I have to go back for more tests. Funnily I didn't consider the HIV test at all - I was more concerned as they were also testing my immunity to chickenpox as dd has been exposed to it and I'm not 100% sure I've had it.

jabberwocky · 02/06/2006 15:13

As secur says, you just never know. I would have sworn there was absolutely no way either of us could have been exposed. Dh's biopsy was 6 years ago and they just now informed us of the problem with sterilization procedures at the time.

When I was in business school, we studied an ethics case where something similar happened at a nationally known teaching hospital. The execs concluded that, since the risk of exposure was so low they did not need to inform the patients. Sadly, one woman had been exposed, was HIV positive and so was her child.

Securlurking · 02/06/2006 15:30

Oh how sad JW Sad

jabberwocky · 02/06/2006 15:32

and shocking that they would be so callous, isn't it?

Securlurking · 02/06/2006 15:34

Very, especially as what they were talking about losing was reputation - bet they lost a lot more face with that end result than if they had just come sclean in the first place.

jabberwocky · 02/06/2006 16:23

exactly. Of course, she did sue their asses off, but in the end I'm sure it was little comfort to her Sad

Securlurking · 02/06/2006 16:25

No it is sad, bad enough to have adults exposed in that kind of a way (ie at completly now fault of their own) but a baby too, it just doesn't bear thinking about Sad

SoupDragon · 02/06/2006 16:35

I honestly don't understand what the fuss is about?? Why not have it? There are no negative aspects at all.

Securlurking · 02/06/2006 16:41

I agree Soupy, but some people do seem to think it is some kind of invasion of privacy.

I wonder if it comes across as if people are laying slurs on them or their partners?

I don't know, to me it seems an odd thing to be precious about.

SoupDragon · 02/06/2006 16:45

Don't they check for a number of STDs as well?

jabberwocky · 02/06/2006 16:50

Not sure. I know they also checked for hep B when they did mine. A good thing too, as that was also one of the things dh could have been exposed to. eeek! I have to tell you ladies, my blood ran cold when we got that letter.

FioFio · 02/06/2006 16:52

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Securlurking · 02/06/2006 16:52

Oh god JW, it must have been awful for you Sad

I don't know about std's although I thought a lot of that was done with swabs? I don't recal swabs being taken when I was pg, but could be wrong.

SOULGIRL · 02/06/2006 16:54

I had no problem with it, not like they needed an extra gallon of blood or anything. Im in the lowes risk category (married & monogomous) but I guess its not impossible I thought it only fair to the midwives (one less to worry about)

SOULGIRL · 02/06/2006 16:54

I meant lowest

FioFio · 02/06/2006 16:55

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jabberwocky · 02/06/2006 16:57

It was, sl. Luckily the nurse returned my call within about an hour and the results had come in already. I felt really sorry for all of those people who had to run out and get tested, though (including dh!) It was just a total fluke that I had had blood work the same week.

Securlurking · 02/06/2006 17:10

Yes, I can't imagine having to go through a week or so of waiting when I was pg - bad enough just worrying about yourself IYSWIM.

SOULGIRL · 02/06/2006 17:33

FioFio - yes highest new infection rates are amongst hetrosexuals (glad im not single)

squishy · 05/06/2006 08:01

Really interested to read all about this - my M/W, although she kept writing (on bits of paper she didn't show me) "consent required" she didn't once inform me that I could opt out or that I needed to consent. I had read pretty thoroughly but knew the score, but just think she should have done something to empower me.

Pruni · 05/06/2006 08:16

Sorry to be picky...
I don't think HIV does lie dormant for years.
It's testable from a few weeks after exposure.
It's the disease that can lurk before it becomes AIDS.

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