Prophylactic antiretroviral prevention of mother-to-child transmission regimens reached only 10% of the HIV-infected pregnant women in 2006, who were usually offered single-dose nevirapine only. The operational links between antenatal care and antiretroviral therapy programmes can now be documented and demonstrate good results in terms of safety and efficacy. The negative impact of single-dose nevirapine exposure on subsequent first-line antiretroviral therapy appears worse for mothers with advanced HIV disease at the time of delivery and short interval before antiretroviral therapy initiation. Strengthening the links between antenatal care and antiretroviral therapy programmes is critical for antiretroviral therapy-eligible HIV-infected pregnant women in terms of prevention of mother-to-child transmission and subsequent antiretroviral therapy response. The breastfeeding period could be a new indication for antiretroviral therapy in this population.