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 ANDÂ 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 Sanele.
The risk is minimal, more so because your son is on medication. Has he had a test yet?
Hi I formula feed my child for a week when he was born then I changed to breastfeeding now I have given him a formula as I don’t have enough milk can my child be infected. I always take my meds and my child is on nevirapine . He is now 5 weeks is there any possibility that he is infected as I mix feed him
Hi,
How long did you mix feed for? Is your daughter taking medication?
Hi I had a financial problem and mix feed my daughter when she was two weeks because I had to go & sell for living.. Does that going to make my baby infected by Brest milk?
Hi Fanie,
If you have a rash, you need to talk to a doctor about this.
Hi I’m on treatment for hiv then last month the doctor changed my treatment to neviropine.I’ve rash the whole body .what must I do treat the rash
Hi Lolo,
What does the clinic say? It’s great that you are taking ART. Good too that your baby is on nevirapine because all babies born to HIV positive mothers have to take a course of HIV meds. So you’re doing all you can to look after her.
But it’s a good idea to ask the nurse about all your baby’s treatment and care, including what to do about feeding her.
Hi,my baby is on nevirapine and am also taking treatment (im hiv positive)…..I am breastfeeding and I need to change her to formula milk…she’s not tested as yet…if i change should she become positive?
Hi Lucy,
Please go to the clinic and ask them for more meds. If you were to miss your meds for a week your viral load may have rebounded, this would put your daughter at risk. Also, for your own health its important not to miss meds.
Hi Lucy here
I have a huge concern I recently gave birth to a beautiful angel and have chosen to exclusively breastfeed her for 6 months I am also HIV positive and have been taking my treatment everyday. Now I recently ran out of my ART pills and my clinic appointment is a week away, my daughter is on iilivitrim and was tested negative when she was born, will me skipping my treatment for the week affect her in anyway or would it best to go to the clinic and request my treatment before my appointment?