Question
Can I stop breastfeeding at 3 months?
2 May 2017. Related: All topics, Children.
Can I stop breastfeeding at 3 months instead of 6 cause my family doesn’t know and I have to go back to work.
Answer
Thanks for getting in touch.
How long you breastfeed for is up to you. If you want to stop at 3 months then you can. If you’d like to continue to give your baby your milk, you could express it and give it to them in a bottle. Is this something that you’ve thought about?
If you do stop giving them your milk, its better that you don’t mix feed.
Hi Karabo, thanks, great that your baby has had such great PCR results. Changing to formula milk will not cause these to change.
Hi I switched from breastfeeding to formula when my baby was 4 months coz I had to go back to work.
Is there any chance I could have transmitted hiv to him?….he alrdy had 2 negative PCR before that and my viral load is undetectable.
Hi Princess, congratulations on having a baby. Will you be switching exclusively to formula feeding?
Even though you have an undetectable viral load and this risk will be small, switching between formula and breast milk before the age of 6 months can increase the risk of transmission. Baby still has a developing tummy and switching feeds can cause irritation. The irritation is what can lead to an increased risk of transmission.
Switching from breast to formula can be difficult. In the first few days as baby adjusts they may be uncomfortable but this is normal. Baby needs to adjust to this new type of feed. Are they still having bowel movements and wet nappies? Sometimes baby can be a little constipated after switching which causes baby to cry. This will settle soon.
My name is princess, I was diagnosed with HIV when I was 5 months pregnant luckily my baby was born negative. I want to stop breastfeeding him now I’ve introduced him to formula he drinks it when I’m not around cause someone takes care of him however when he’s with me he doesn’t want it he cries and wants breast milk so I feel bad and then just give it to him it’s been 3 days now trying but it’s hard. How will this have an effect on him will there be any risk of infection and my viral load is undetectable. Please advise I’m stressed
Hi Joyce, congratulations on having a baby. It is great that you are on ARVs and baby is also on treatment.
Yes you can go back to formula feeding. Switching from breastfeeding to formula carries no risk of transmission. There is only a slight increase risk of transmission when switching from formula to breastmilk.
Switching once at day 4 is not going to have significantly increased baby’s risk of HIV. Both being on treatment and only doing this once means the risk remains negligible.
You are doing everything right and it is a good sign that baby has already had a negative test result. When switching back to formula baby may be a little uncomfortable for a few days. This is expected and normal. It is just as baby adjusts to this different type of feed.
Good day,
My name is Joyce, i gave my baby formula milk for 4 days whilst in hospital after giving birth and she wasn’t drinking it well so when i got home I changed her n breastfed her she’s on nevirapine and im on my ARV’s. I went to the clinic to get the baby’s results wen she was tested from birth n she’s negative she will test again wen she’s 10weeks bt im afraid coz i changed her plz advice on this as im stressed and can i change her back to formula when she is 6weeks as ill be going back to work and that would be the last tym changing her. Plz advise on these im so stressed.