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I've been asked to consider being shown to an emom who is HIV+. I know a good bit about HIV (worked in the field for quite a while) and have read medical info - the specialist she is seeing says there is an exellent chance the child will not seroconvert (less than 2% chance of this happening). I'm seriously considering being shown (if I agree to be shown I am committed if she chooses me). I am a bit worried, both about possibility of the child seroconverting, about family and friends' reactions, etc. Anyone been in this position?
I am not in this position but DW and I are back on the list waiting for nubmer 2. We are open to children who were born to HIV+ BMs. Honestly if the BM is receiving medical treatment for HIV there really is slim chance of the baby contracting it and even if the baby does test positive at birth if he/she is put on meds right away they have a good chance of seroconverting to negative which I have seen happen. since babies have No immune system of their own for the first few months it is easy to manipulate it so that the baby essentially will be negative. I would do it but then again that's just me. Also if the baby tests negative at birth you won't really have to tell family and friends. I think it would only be worth telling them if the baby were positive.
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I have never been in this situation but just thought I would give my thought about it.
I would consider being shown to this birthmom ONLY if I was willing to adopt an HIV+ baby. You can hope for the best but you should plan for the worst and then ask yourself if you are still okay with that.
If the mom is on meds, I think the chance is very low that the baby will be a true positive but, sadly, someone's baby has made up that 2% and it could be this child. If you are okay with either outcome, go for it!
HIV DNA PCR or HIV RNA PCR tests are very accurate for testing infants even at a 2 weeks old. of course, testing guidelines suggest you repeat it about 6 weeks after that. but it's very reliable.