Bottle-feeding and free formula milk

Women not breast/chest feeding their baby should be offered the drug cabergoline to stop lactation.

All mothers living with HIV in the UK should be supported to formula feed their babies, if that’s what they choose to do. If you cannot afford the formula, bottles and sterilising equipment, these should be provided by your hospital so that you do not need to breastfeed. Schemes vary from clinic to clinic. Please let your clinic know if you need support.

Your midwife should discuss whether you need this extra support as part of your discharge package when you leave the hospital with your baby.

Please make sure that you take advantage of this if you need to.

As access to formula milk in the UK is patchy the National AIDS Trust has published a policy briefing.

https://www.nat.org.uk/publication/policy-briefing-access-formula-milk-mothers-living-hiv-uk

Last updated: 1 November 2023.