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.
I have a 6 week old and I got my results to say my VL is LDL.
The nurse then said I can stop giving my baby Nevirapine and Zidovudine because all is okay now. This scared me so much because with my first she took them until I stopped breastfeeding.
Is this right? Should I stop? The meds are almost finished and she didn’t give me new ones because she says all is well.
HELP!
Hello Tash and many thanks for getting in touch
Congratulations on the new baby! you must be very happy!
Please don’t worry. Being undetectable (viral load under 200 copies) is the most important thing you can do for yourself and your baby.
Every country has different guidelines about combining formula and breast milk.
Here in the UK, we suggest stopping breastfeeding after 6 months and to do either breastmilk or formula.
Please speak with your doctor for any more information.
I am sending you the links to the leaflets the British HIV Association has produced about breastfeeding as I feel the information might be helpful to you – they also include what you can say if you don’t want to breastfeed your baby.
https://bhiva.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/BF-Leaflet-1.pdf
https://bhiva.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/BF-Leaflet-2.pdf
Hello please I have undetectable viral load which is less than 20 and just had a c section. Baby is 5 days old. Been struggling to breastfeed baby as I started with formula the first 3 days. Mother in law is unaware of hiv status and making me breastfeed but it’s been difficult producing enough breastmilk so I mixfeed breastmilk ( sometimes expressed) and formula milk. Baby has been taking nevirapine everyday. My question is if I continue mixed feeding breastmilk from chest and also expressed breastmilk with formula milk as a top up will baby be infected with hiv? What are the consequences of my actions as I don’t want mother in law to become aware if my status
Hello Lwandle and many thanks for getting in touch
Congratulations on the new baby! you must be very happy!
Please don’t worry. Being undetectable (viral load under 200 copies) is the most important thing you can do for yourself and your baby.
A viral load of 125 is very low to be putting your baby at risk and the medication you are giving him protect him on top of that.
I am guessing you are having some difficulties, however, you are still managing to keep on top of things so well done for that.
Be proud of how well you are doing and things will get easier when the baby grows a bit and you manage to get some sleep.
I am sending you the links for information the British HIV Association has produced about breastfeeding as I feel the information might be helpful to you
https://bhiva.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/BF-Leaflet-1.pdf
https://bhiva.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/BF-Leaflet-2.pdf
Hi I’d like to know that is it possible that my babe can be infected I’m on my treatment which I’m doing well(Undetactable) but last week when I got my results they said my viral load is high which is 125 I’m worried because I’m breastfeeding and I’m having sleepless nights they gave him nevirapine and some syrup which I forgot the name
Hi Paulina, please talk to the clinic about this. Apart from taking your own meds to stay undetectable, I think most countries only recommend breastfeeding for about 6 months.
Hi my baby is breastfeeding, how can I make to protect until is 1 year old breastfeeding?
Hi Tebogo, changing to formula milk is usually okay and won’t increase the risk. Please ask your doctor thought as guidelines vary in different countries.
My baby is 6 weeks and I’m breastfeeding but now I want to switch to formula. Will this increase a chance of infection? She’s taking nevirapine everyday.
Hi Tebogo, I am sorry but i-Base can’t answer questions about HIV treatment for newborn babies. This is because doses sometimes depend on your HIV history and because different countries use meds slightly differently. Please contact your clinic to check their latest advice and to askl them this question.