Q and A

Question

My baby is on nevirapine and I’m breastfeeding, is my baby positive?

Answer

Hi there,

Firstly, congratulations on having your baby.

It is normal for your baby to be given a short course (4 weeks) of HIV treatment (such as nevirapine) when born. This doesn’t mean your baby is HIV positive. This will be checked later through testing. A different type of testing is also used on babies as the normal antibody test used in adults will show the baby as positive.

Our guide on pregnancy has lots more information

https://i-base.info/guides/pregnancy

Do you mind me asking if you are taking HIV treatment for your health?

In the UK, the BHIVA (British HIV Association) guidelines recommend bottle feeding.

This is because in countries where mothers can have access to to formula milk AND clean water AND bottle sterilising equipment, the risk of transmitting HIV to the baby through bottle feeding is zero. There are different recommendations for other countries though and many women breastfeed. I am not sure about the recommendations in Zambia.

This means that you are doing the best that you can to protect your baby.

However, being positive and looking after a new born baby can be hard and many people need help. Do you have much support around you to help or are you touch with good care from your doctor?

433 comments

  1. Josh Peasegood

    Hi Talia, congratulations on having a baby. As baby is now 6 months there is no further risk of transmission by mixing breastmilk and solids.

    Was baby prescribed zidovudine and nevirapine for 6 months? These treatments are often only prescribed for 6 weeks (sometimes 12 weeks in high risk pregnancies). Continuing with treatment longer than this does not offer any additional benefit.

    Have you been told by your doctor how long to keep baby on treatment?

    Treatment for baby is explained here: https://i-base.info/qa/factsheets/infant-meds-when-the-mother-is-living-with-hiv

  2. Taila

    Hai,my baby is almost six months and has been on nevirapine and zidovudine,.six days ago I ran out of zidovudine but have continued giving nevirapine. His also started on solid foods, like maize meal porridge with pounded groundnuts and other times mixed with meat soup…. I have been taking my medicine as well,his still breast feeding.. .what do I do? Could my son be infected?

  3. Josh Peasegood

    Hi Anela, congratulations on giving birth. It is great that your viral load is LDL and baby is doing so well.

    Adding water to baby’s diet along with formula only feed is not going to cause any risk of HIV transmission.

    As baby is still young it is advised to use boiled cooled water to prevent any risk of other infections. After 6 months you will not need to do this.

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