mind the innocents
"I felt very alienated because of my HIV status when I was pregnant. I never went to any of the usual antenatal classes because other pregnant mothers were so nosy.
They asked so many questions. Like, 'Why are you having a Caesarean?'
and 'Why aren't you going to breastfeed?' I didn't want to reveal my status."
Kate did miss the breastfeeding: "I had this real physical urge
to do it. My breast milk would pour out and it would have been so nice,
but I just knew it wasn't an option. Luckily, Michael was perfectly happy
with the bottle from the start."
childcare in the future
Mothers and workers are concerned about recent changes in government policy
over childcare support and HIV. Jeanette Meadway, Medical Director at
the Mildmay
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Hospital, that houses the Mildmay nursery, says: "Most children
born here now from positive parent are HIV negative. HIV-affected children
are no longer deemed to require special health needs and health authorities
are not likely to continue funding special HIV services for childcare."
What this actually means is that the Mildmay nursery will lose its health
authority funding from next April.
"This does not mean the Mildmay nursery will close next spring. We can still offer children a place if someone like the
local authority funds
Little Lou (right) gives a painting lesson to patron Diane Jordan at Mildmay's nursery
