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 Taritha.
Testing in babies is different to adults, please see here: http://i-base.info/guides/pregnancy/hiv-negative
Missing 2 days is unlikely to be the reason why your baby tested positive, there could be other factors. Firstly, where was the test carried out? Was it in a clinic? Have you been breastfeeding? Is your viral load undetectable?
My baby missed cipla NVP for too days during 6weeks, now she’s 6″months and tested positive should I believe this
Hi Charmaine,
First, congratulations on the news of your new born baby girl.
And it sounds like you are doing all you can. Being on HIV treatment yourself means that you can reduce the risk to your baby to close to zero. And it’s good too that she is taking a short course of nevirapine.
HIV positive mothers are recommended to breastfeed only in some countries. This should be breastfeeding only and not mixed feeding with formula. It’s recommended to breastfeed only for six months, and then wean your baby onto soft food.
Here’s the guide to HIV pregnancy and women’s health. There’s a lot of info in this, including for after your baby is born.
Hi I’m HIV positive I have a new born girl she is negative and I’m positive so the nurses gave me nevirapine to give her for 6 weeks I don’t have enough income to buy her milk I’m breastfeeding her can she be sick .
Worried Mom
Hi Lesego,
First, congratulations on the birth of your baby boy.
I’m sorry that you tested positive during labour. But even at this stage there are things that can be done. Such as giving you a dose of HIV treatment immediately, and starting you on HIV treatment straight away.
It’s good that you have nevirapine to give to him. All baby’s need to take a short course of HIV drugs for the first weeks of life, if their mother is HIV positive.
You can see much more in this guide to HIV pregnancy and women’s health. This includes for after your baby is born.
If you live in South Africa you can contact the Treatment Action Campaign at this contact link. They can help with local support.
Hi all I tested positive during labour and haven’t received any medication during pregnancy. They gave me cipla nevirapine to give to my baby boy daily.
His 1 week old and is it possible for my baby to be affected with HIV?
Hi Lerato,
How old is your baby? Are they on formula or breast milk?
Hy I’m HIV possitve and im mixed feeding my baby due to I’m still at School Im giving my baby food and she’s not even 6 months and water is my baby positive I’m worried
Hi Precious,
Please don’t worry, it sounds like you’re doing all you can for your baby girl.
It’s great that you’re taking your HIV meds correctly. But it’s a good idea to talk to your doctor and get the best advice on feeding your baby from them. Your doctor’s advice can help stop you worrying.
If you live in South Africa you can contact the Treatment Action Campaign for local support. Here’s a link to their contacts page.
Hi I had a baby girl and I’m HIV positive and I breastfeed her but I made mistake by giving her a bottle just for an hour I wanted to change her to formula but she likes breast milk so I was forced to continue breastfeeding her is my baby being infected even I’m taking my RX correctly since 2016 I’m worried about her plz help