Dec 1st Musings

Here I am, winding up the end of my time on medical leave from my latest surgery. Good thing too. My butt is getting awfully sore from sitting on it at my computer most of the day (doing various homework assignments, studying, and generalized computer time).

I'm missing births too!

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Have you heard the latest buzz? It's world HIV/AIDS day today. According to this site, HIV infections are down by about 20% in the past 10 years, but we still have quite a way to go at improving national and world HIV statistics. There is also this site: No Child Born With HIV by 2015. What bugs me a little bit is this medical fact: babies usually are not born with full blown HIV (in fact, they simply aren't born that way); instead, they can contract the HIV virus during pregnancy or the birth itself. However, they may not show up as positive with HIV antibodies until months or even years later. (Please, someone correct me if I'm wrong on this!)

With the latest progress in preventing transmission of HIV from mother to neonate, there is a very slim chance of a baby becoming infected with HIV from his/her mother during pregnancy or the birth process. I mean, a super, duper, LOW risk of it happening. IF the mom's viral load stays low/undetectable during pregnancy, IF mom receives proper anti-viral therapy during pregnancy, IF mom receives proper AZT infusions before labor and during labor. THEN the chances of HIV transmission from mom to baby are slim to nil.

Thank goodness for that, at least.