Q and A

Question

I’ve HIV and just had a baby, should I use formula?

hi. I’m hiv positive and have given birth 5days ago. I’m currently on tribuss and undetectable. My family is too judgemental so i have not told anyone about my status. I’m feeding my baby formula but the problem is she has not pooped for 2days now and my family keeps on saying its because of formula i should breastfeed. I want to know if it is still safe for me to breastfeed even if i started by giving formula.

Answer

Congratulations on the birth of your child.

I appreciate that it can be hard to tell people about your status. You may also feel under more pressure because of having a baby. Because you are on treatment, how you choose to feed your child is your decision. The following though may help:

https://i-base.info/qa/6656

With regards to your baby pooing, this is normal in newborns. If however, you are concerned please talk to a doctor.

Good luck.

144 comments

  1. Josh Peasegood

    Hi Ofentse, how old is baby? It is safe to give baby formula feed and zidovudine together. After 6 weeks (sometimes 12 weeks) it is no longer recommended for baby to continue with zidovudine. This is because there is no further benefit and the risk of HIV transmission when not breastfeeding is no longer present.

  2. ofentse

    Hi my baby is on formula feed when should i stop to give him zidovudine

  3. Simon Collins

    Hi Sandiso, thanks, congratulations on your new baby. I think that your clinic will say it is okay to stop the co-trimoxazole but please contact them to check first. i-Base are not doctors and the doctor who prescribed the meds should advise you about when to stop.

    This leaflet includes information about how advice can be different depending on where you live:
    https://i-base.info/qa/factsheets/infant-meds-when-the-mother-is-living-with-hiv

    best wishes

  4. Sandiso

    Hy I need your help please my baby is 6 months old now so I want to stop breastfeeding and before we were given co- trimoxazole because i was breastfeeding so now should I stop giving her co-trimoxazole?

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