Question
My baby is on nevirapine and I’m breastfeeding, is my baby positive?
19 August 2016. Related: All topics, Pregnancy.
Answer
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
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?
Hi!! For how long should the baby who has positive hiv mother is supporsed to have niveratine? And when to stop breastfeeding to this child?
Hi Lisa,
Thank you very much. And, yes I do, everyday! It’s good to have people such as yourself around. You’re an Angel ❤
Hi Lisa,
Thanks for getting back to us.
A persons viral load should ideally become undetectable within 3 months of being on meds, so your may well be undetectable. Missing 2 days will be OK. You should however try to make sure that you take meds daily.
Hi Lisa,
Thank you for the reply
I’m not sure about being undetectable, but I’ve been on my meds since I was 6 and a half months, till date.
She’s a month old today.
Hi Lisa,
Missing 2 days of meds should be OK, the risks will be minimal, if any, Are you undetectable and how old is your baby?
My baby is on Nevirapine and I’m on treatment and was told to breastfeed at the clinic.
Secondly, I just ran out of Nevirapine and when I went to the clinic today (Saturday) and was told to return on Monday since the dispensary only opens during the week. Now I’m restless since my child will skip 2 days of her medicine.
Should I be worried, as I’m having panic attacks regarding this??
Thanks In Advance
Hi Nall,
To know if a baby is positive or not they need to be tested. There’s more about this here:
http://i-base.info/guides/pregnancy/hiv-negative
Babies don’t need water until they are around 6 months old, and they certainly don’t need sugar.
Hai ma baby is on nevirapine am not breast feeding igive her warm water with brown sugar 2 bottles every morning after that igive her milk is she positive?
Dear Ntai,
Congratulations on having your baby. As Muirgan says on the question above, in the UK treatment guidelines say that the safest way to feed your baby is with formula milk. Is this available where you live. And have you access to clean bottles and water?
Can you ask at the clinic for help to do this? Here is the i-Base guide to HIV, pregnancy and women’s health.
Mi baby is on nevirapine and im breastfeeding, im HIV positive not taking any treatment is mi baby safe