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 Luyanda,
Having an undetectable viral load can really help to protect your baby from HIV. And it’s also good that you are only feeding your baby with breast milk.
But you can to talk to the clinic about your son’s nevirapine. They should let you know what meds he should be given at his age, and for how long.
Hi im Luyanda,im hiv+ my baby is 10weeks now he was born negative,he took nevaropine fo 6 weeks then i stop for 1 month because i ddnt know he must continue with it,im undetectable and breastfeeding,can my baby be positive im only using breast milk i dnt mix
Hi T,
Yes its ok to stop breastfeeding and give your child formula, this isn’t an issue. You’ll need to stay on your meds and your baby should finish the course that they have been given.
I m on cipla and want to stop breastfeeding and use formula my baby is 3 weeks is it ok
Hi Elsie,
Mixed feeding is feeding your baby breast milk and formula milk. There is a slight increased risk of HIV to your baby if you feed in these two ways during the same time. Here in the UK babies born to HIV positive mothers are recommended to feed with formula only.
But you can talk to the clinic about this. You can also check with them that your baby has had the right treatment so far.
I have been mix feeding,is it possible that my baby could be infected?
Hi Petunia.
Babies having solid food has no impact on their possible status. However, feeding a baby solid food at 3 months is too early.
Hi,my name is Petunia P
I’m HIV positive,my baby tested negative when he was born even when he was 3months,I’m praying for him to be negative when he test for 1year 6months,now the problem is my aunt doesn’t know about my status,so I left my baby with him for 2days when i went for an interview, apparently he fed my baby purity (baby food),before I went for an interview I pleaded with her not to feed him since he’s not 6months yet,she agreed but still went on a feed him,i was mad and scared for what she did,do you think this will affect his results when he test again, I’m exclusively formula feeding.
Hi Nado,
Its not possible for me to say if your baby is at risk. She’s going to need to be tested.
Can my baby be affected because I introduced her to formula and I still breastfeed her am really worried