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

Original poster

HIV test in pregnancy

101 replies

Forafriend · 16/03/2005 19:07

Am pregnant with no.3 and about to have my booking in bloods. Declined HIV test with DD2 - wasnt offered with DD1. IS it possible to have 2 healthy breastfed DD's, have been with DH (and faithful) for 8 years, we are both healthy .... could i have it and not know???
I did have a couple of partners before DH who i didnt know their sexual history totally (but then who does??)
Am i just panicing at the thought?? Or is it possible??

OP posts:
kama · 16/03/2005 22:57

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CrazyDi · 16/03/2005 23:12

I said yes to the test and have had partners prior to hubby...plus a couple of blood transfusions for anaemia..and i was panicking!! I convinced myself I had it, my kids would have it and so on!!

When my blood results came back the dr rang me up and asked me to go straight in and oh my god...did i panic!! The hour between the call and getting to my doctor was hell and when I got there i felt daft... I was severely anaemic and thats why he called me in, and then proceeded to tell me the hiv was negative!! That was the greatest feeling ever!! I walked out of the surgery with a huge grin, not caring about the anaemia...just buzzin that the test was negative!!

I do think it would be better to know..scary I know, but sleepless nights wondering and worrying arent healthy either, and in most cases its just paranoia!!

Good luck

norash40 · 16/03/2005 23:20

Have a look at this aloha \link{http://www.avert.org/aidsfaqs.htm}

CrazyDi · 16/03/2005 23:24

i wondered that too...how is a ventouse delivery a risk??

norash40 · 16/03/2005 23:26

\link{http://www.virusmyth.net/aids}

bonym · 16/03/2005 23:26

I declined it with dd - this time around I had it done - not because I thought there was any real chance that I was infected but because, as you say, most people don't know the full sexual history of everyone they've ever slept with. I agree with aloha that it's actually good to have all doubt taken away when the tests come back negative!

nightowl · 17/03/2005 00:12

i had the test. was scared but if i had it i wanted everything possible done to stop baby having it too so thought it better to know.

nightowl · 17/03/2005 00:13

and they never phone you if its negative...sat around for weeks wondering!!

spagblog · 17/03/2005 07:36

Re the ventouse thing - I am not sure now whether it was because of the ventouse or because of the episotomy with it...I think open wound/surgery and someone sewing you up may constitute a risk of infection in some bizarre and scary way...Or maybe my MW just told me this pack of lies in an attempt to get me to test again!

I had a couple of scary nights before the test with DD, In my heart I knew I was fine, but you can't help but run through all the scenarios.

emmatmg · 17/03/2005 07:45

Haven't read the whole thread but in aloha defence when I had my test for Ds2 and said how sared I was my MW said exactly the same as aloha did.

I don't think she's (aloha) is making it up, being judgmental or whatever she probably got the info from the same place as I did. The hospital midwife.

emmatmg · 17/03/2005 07:47

aloha'S defence.

Snugs · 17/03/2005 12:02

Where does aloha say that Africa is the only country with rising HIV rates?

Where does she say that sleep with an African man and you will get HIV?

Where does she post any dangerous or inaccurate information?

FFS! All she said was that "it is really, really rare with non-drug using women who haven't been in Africa", which is perfectly true. You may view it as badly phrased, but it is not inaccurate or dangerous.

bundle · 17/03/2005 12:10

it's brilliant that this test is now offered universally (and should be compulsory imo) as the maternal transmission rates can be dramatically reduced with drugs.

Gwenick · 17/03/2005 12:14

Snugs - she was basically saying that if you've not been to africa and used drugs then you probably won't get HIV - imagine if our children were taught that at school......"oh well it's so incredibly rare in the UK if you're with an African or on drugs so therefore you don't need to use protection.............."

emmatmg · 17/03/2005 13:17

I swear my MW said almost exactly the same though. I doubt it's something aloha has made up.

MW said "really, you have nothing to worry about unless you are a drug user(as in injecting) or have lived or had sexual relations in Africa, then your risks will be higher"

With both Ds2+3 pretty much the same thing was said, 2 yrs apart, different MW's.

Toothache · 17/03/2005 13:23

Forafriend - I am so scared of that too. I've not had unprotected sex with anyone (other than DH) for nearly 6 years. I have refused the HIV test twice through sheer panic!!

I know it's irresponsible, but I got the impression that only people at risk took the test. My MW told me not to bother.

Pamina3 · 17/03/2005 13:29

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Toothache · 17/03/2005 13:31

Pamina3 - You must have signed for it!! They can't do an HIV test without consent.

Gwenick · 17/03/2005 13:32

I was definitley given the option of having the HIV test - I decided to anyhow, 'just in case'...

jabberwocky · 17/03/2005 13:34

I don't think you can opt out in the states. I was nervous as well, but also anxious to get it done and feel justifiably healthy IYKWIM. Just do it and then put it out of your mind. The results come back really quickly so it should only be a day or two. Maybe have some baby project to work on.

Pamina3 · 17/03/2005 13:35

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Toothache · 17/03/2005 13:36

lol Pamina3 - I was given a tick list of tests I wanted at my booking in apointment with the MW. I simply didn't tick that box and then I signed it.

NomDePlume · 17/03/2005 13:37

I had it done, I didn't think twice about it, TBH. I'm not a member of the 'ignorance is bliss' brigade, despite having a fairly chequered sexual history. I had one when I had a termination, one with the dd I lost, and one when I was pregnant with DD.

Toothache · 17/03/2005 13:38

Gawd, now I'm worried!!!! I had a rather wild University life style!!!

milward · 17/03/2005 13:40

It's important to have the test in preg to let the mw, docs etc know. They are in the front line here and childbirth can be a messy business. Also bf can transmit hiv from mum to baby. Understand it's a difficult decision to take & the wait for results can be terrible.