HIV postive women ARE encouraged to avoid pregnancy.  Unfortunately, in
most of the world (including US and Europe), most women don't know they
are HIV positive before conceiving.  Most women are infected by a partner
who doesn't know or hasn't shared his HIV positive status.  Many women are
also not empowered by their culture to 1) say "no"  or 2) use
contraception at all, let alone condoms that might help them prevent
infection.  Breastfeeding is something women can choose not to
do--although I don't think the final answer on breastfeeding and HIV
infection is availble yet.  I read the "mothering" article, and I think it
does a very good job of raising some of the issues.  (BTW, I don't think
HIV is a "hypothesis"--it has good scientific evidence supporting it as a
*causal* agent for AIDS.  What science hasn't figured out yet is why most
people who contract it go on to have AIDS, but some people don't.  I do
believe it's possible for someone to be infected and recover.)

--
Anne Montgomery, M.D., I.B.C.L.C.
[log in to unmask]
St.Peter Hospital Family Practice Residency
Olympia, WA