A brief description of AIDS and suggested guidelines for providing nursing care to the parturient AIDS victim are provided. The current literature in defining the syndrome, its course, and its statistics is surveyed. Infection control precautions that need to be adapted when caring for the mother and infant who are affected by AIDS during the perinatal period are described. The possible emotional consequences that AIDS may inflict on its victims are also described. Finally, methods are suggested for setting up a communications system for sharing necessary information about these patients and their care.