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 Zusiphe,
Unfortunately we are not doctors at i-Base. But it sounds like you need some support accessing the right treatment for your daughter. You could try contacting the Treatment Action Campaign. They might be able to offer local support and information. Here’s a link to their contacts page.
my baby is on nevaripin she’s 4months now…i was in eastern cape the doctor told me to stop the nvp but when i come to Johannesburg they told me to continue with the nvp
Hi Kananalo,
I’m sorry to hear that your son’s nevirapine is out of stock. Has your clinic resolved this to prevent this happening again? Unfortunately this problem is far too common in South Africa. Is that where you live?
The Treatment Action Campaign are campaigning to improve this – you may want to get in touch with them for information about what to do.
Are you taking HIV meds too? What are you taking Kananalo?
Hi my son has been on the nevirapine for 5 weeks now and we have rannout of the medication. It’s also out of stock in all the pharmacies near by… What are the risks should he miss one day of the medication or if I am only able to get the meds later tomorrow after his medication time has passed?
Hi Sandy,
As Muirgen says here, it’s normal for your baby to be given a short course of HIV treatment such as nevirapine when born.
Sometimes babies do cry, but what does the doctor say about his running stomach? Please ask about this at the clinic.
Is it easy to get to see someone at the clinic? If you live in South Africa you can contact the Treatment Action Campaign. They might be able to help with support.
Hi my name is Sandy I am HIV my baby is 4days at the hospital thy gave me cipla nevirapine to give my baby everything day by now my baby is crying and just today he started a running stomach what can I do
Hi Vusi,
Its not really possible to say, however the risk should be minimal. Are they now taking their medication?
If my baby miss two days for nevaropine is any problem?
Hi Precious,
If he’s not getting enough breastmilk you could switch to formula only. But it’s not a good idea to mix breastfeeding and feeding him with formula milk. This mixed feeding could slightly increase the risk of HIV. But please can you talk to the nurses and doctors about it.
Hi, i am hiv+ and my baby is 4days. Im breastfeeding but i realised that my baby doesn’t get satisfied because he’s always hungry so i want to give him formula, do you think it is wise for me to him?