Pregnancy and Newborn Care

National Guidelines and Publications

Canadian Paediatric and Perinatal HIV/AIDS Research Group consensus recommendations for infant feeding in the HIV context

Guideline: Journal of the Association of Medical Microbiology and Infectious Disease Canada, November 2022

The Canadian infant feeding consensus guidelines are designed to inform and enable better care for women living with HIV and their babies. Providing comprehensive infant feeding guidance to families affected by HIV is complex and requires a multidisciplinary approach. While exclusive formula feeding remains the preferred recommendation for infants born to women living with HIV (WLWH) in high-income countries, a more nuanced approach that may include the option of breastfeeding under certain circumstances is emerging in many resource-rich countries.
Guideline No. 450: Care of Pregnant Women Living with HIV and Interventions to Reduce Perinatal Transmission

Clinical Practice Guideline: Society of Obstetricians and Gynecologists of Canada (SOGC), June 2024

This guideline presents updated recommendations for the management of pregnant women living with HIV and for the prevention of perinatal HIV transmission. It revises the previous Guideline No. 310, Guidelines for the Care of Pregnant Women Living with HIV and Interventions to Reduce Perinatal Transmission, and incorporates a current review of the literature along with contemporary evidence-based recommendations.

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Saskatchewan Maternal/Parental and Infant HIV Orders and Resources – Saskatchewan Health Authority

In May 2022, the Saskatchewan Health Authority released new provincial order sets for the initial management and care of pregnant individuals living with HIV who present in labour, and their newborn baby. The order sets can be utilized at all sites offering labour and delivery services across the province, including when transfer is not feasible. Additional related documents are also available to facilitate communication between care providers and assist teams in implementing the order sets.

All HIV maternal/parental and newborn clinical resources, including order sets and clinical forms, can be accessed at: www.saskhealthauthority.ca/intranet/health-provider-resources/clinical-resources/maternalchildrens-health/hiv-maternal-and-newborn-clinical-resources.

SHA Memo: Maternal and Newborn Order Sets (May 2022)

Maternal/Parental and Infant HIV Order Sets

CS-LM-0007 Provincial Maternal/Parental and Infant HIV Order Sets Additional Information
(Maternal & Children’s Provincial Program KMU, Saskatchewan Health Authority; December, 2024)
CS-OS-1801 HIV Positive Individuals in Labour – INITIAL Medication and Care Orders
(Saskatchewan Health Authority; April 26, 2022)
CS-OS-5801 Infants Born to HIV Positive Individuals – INITIAL Medication and Care Orders
(Saskatchewan Health Authority; April 26, 2022)

Additional Documents and Clinical Forms

SHA 0150 Recommendations from Maternal/Parental HIV Provider to Obstetrics and Pediatrics
(Saskatchewan Health Authority; May 2022)
SHA 0219 Maternal/Parental and Infant – HIV Nursing Discharge Checklist
(Saskatchewan Health Authority; May 2022)
SHA 0151 Discharge Instructions for Baby – HIV Prevention
(Saskatchewan Health Authority; May 2022)

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CS-LM-0007 Provincial Maternal/Parental and Infant HIV Order Sets – Additional Information
(Maternal & Children’s Provincial Program KMU, Saskatchewan Health Authority; May 2, 2022)

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Mother/Caregiver-Specific Resources

Saskatchewan Infant Formula Program

Breastfeeding is not recommended for infants born to individuals living with HIV because of the risk of vertical transmission. In Saskatchewan, free infant formula is available to infants born to individuals living with HIV from birth to one year of age.

For more mother/caregiver-specific information about the program, including contact information and referral procedures, click here.

For more healthcare provider-specific information about the program, including contact information and referral procedures, click here.
Growing Your Family: An introduction to pregnancy, planning, surrogacy, and adoption for people living with HIV

Booklet (CATIE & CHPPG, 2020)
HIV…It’s Different Now: Health Pregnancies and Health Babies

Booklet (Saskatchewan Prevention Institute, 2018)
Is Formula Good for My Baby?

Booklet (CATIE, 2015)

For more information about local supports and services, contact your local HIV Strategy Coordinator.

Their contact information can be found here.

Additional Resources for Healthcare Providers

HIV and Pregnancy: A Guide to Care (Saskatchewan Prevention Institute, 2020)

Resource that aims to serve as a guide for healthcare providers working with women and individuals living with HIV who are pregnant or considering becoming pregnant. Information about preventing the transmission of HIV from mother/parent to infants during pregnancy, labour, delivery, and feeding is provided.
Canadian HIV Pregnancy Planning Website

A virtual repository of up-to-date and expert-approved pre-parenting and pregnancy planning information for HIV care providers created by the Canadian HIV Pregnancy Planning Guidelines (CHPPG) Core Team. The website aims to optimize the access to and availability of holistic, non-judgmental, culturally aware, and scientifically sound pregnancy planning services and guidance for people living with HIV across Canada.
Centre for Effective Practice (CEP): Women-Centred HIV Care
Women-centred HIV care should be incorporated into every interaction between clinicians and women living with HIV. Women-centred HIV care acknowledges each woman as a unique individual and works with them in a participatory model of decision making to provide holistic care. These toolkits are designed to support clinicians and women by providing them with guidance on the various components of women-centred HIV care. These include person-centred care; trauma- and violence- aware care; HIV care; women’s health care; mental and emotional health care; as well as peer support, leadership, and capacity building.
- Provider Toolkit – Caring for Women Living with HIV: Women-Centred HIV Care
  (CEP, WCH, CHIWOS; February 2020)
- Patient Toolkit – Women-Centred HIV Care: Information for Women
  (CEP, WCH, CHIWOS; March 2020)
Consolidated Guideline on Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights of Women Living with HIV (World Health Organization, May 2019)

Consolidates existing recommendations specific to women living with HIV along with new recommendations and good practice statements as a response to requests from organizations, institutions, and individuals.
The Risk of HIV Transmission Through Breastfeeding: What we know (and don’t know)

A Prevention in Focus publication by CATIE released on February 10, 2023.
Saskatchewan Prevention Institute

Resources created by the Saskatchewan Prevention Institute available by download or order specific to HIV and pregnancy, including additional resources on sexual and reproductive health.
Sanctum 1.5

Sanctum 1.5 is a 10-bed prenatal care home in Saskatoon which supports women who are living with HIV or at high risk of contracting HIV and are at risk of having their babies apprehended at birth.