Being There for My Baby: Early Responses of HIV-infected Mothers With an HIV-exposed Infant

IntroductionThe purpose of this study was to explore and describe the early responses of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)–positive mothers to the birth of an HIV-exposed infant during the first 8 months of life.MethodThis descriptive, qualitative study was part of a larger prospective longitudinal study of HIV-exposed infants born to HIV-infected women. Participants in the present study were 26 HIV-positive biologic mothers recruited from one of two Southeastern tertiary pediatric infectious disease clinics where infants were being monitored to determine their HIV status.Results“Being there for my baby” was the central theme that captured the critical importance of the baby in the lives of these mothers. Three sub-themes characterized their stories: (a) giving the baby a chance, (b) taking care of the baby, and (c) parenting as a reason to live.DiscussionPediatric nurse practitioners have the unique opportunity to use the mother-infant relationship as a medium for health care delivery. They are a critical source of support for infants and their caregivers during the first year of life. They can assess the development of trust and attachment between infants and caregivers and implement a plan to strengthen family support and resources to provide a physically and emotionally secure environment.