Question
I’ve HIV and just had a baby, should I use formula?
25 October 2016. Related: All topics, Children, Disclosure, South Africa.
hi. I’m hiv positive and have given birth 5days ago. I’m currently on tribuss and undetectable. My family is too judgemental so i have not told anyone about my status. I’m feeding my baby formula but the problem is she has not pooped for 2days now and my family keeps on saying its because of formula i should breastfeed. I want to know if it is still safe for me to breastfeed even if i started by giving formula.
Answer
Congratulations on the birth of your child.
I appreciate that it can be hard to tell people about your status. You may also feel under more pressure because of having a baby. Because you are on treatment, how you choose to feed your child is your decision. The following though may help:
With regards to your baby pooing, this is normal in newborns. If however, you are concerned please talk to a doctor.
Good luck.
Hi Brenda,
Congratulations on having a new baby girl. Have you talked to the nurse about what might be causing the constipation? It’s good to check this to find out. Both for yourself and your baby.
You can switch to breatfeeding if your viral load is under 50. But please talk to your doctor about it first.
Hi im Brenda
I just received my baby girl on friday 14 December and ever since i used formula now my child is constipated can i switch to breastfeeding in 4 days of birth and i also constipated too and hiv positive is still safe?
Hi Brenda,
Congratulations on having a new baby daughter. But it’s important that you ask the doctor to look at her eyes. If she has an eye infection breastmilk is unlikely to help.
You can ask the doctor for the best treatment to help her to get better quickly.
Im hiv positive i givr birh on friday 14 December. I give my baby the formula s26 it was my choice because at the clinic where i gave birth they did give any advise about the best formula i use for my baby girl she is for now but she s not have a good sight my family says i must spray breast milk on her eyes but i dont have that breast milk because i haven’t told them about my status they are too judgmental. My question is can i still squues milk into her eyes ?
Hi edirin,
Its OK that your baby is on solid food as well as milk, this is normal at 6 months.
guy evening ,am HIV positive have been on drugs for, 4years now, ND I gave birth 8 months ago, after the birth I used niveridine for six weeks for d baby ND did six months exclusive baby feeding for the baby, but after the six months I introduced to solid food ND still breastfeed from seven months is it risky ,please reply me
Hi Loveness,
There are many different kinds of formula. First infant formula should be used from birth. Other formula milk for very young babies must only be given with advice from your doctor. After six months mum’s can give babies follow on formula.
But HIV positive mums should always talk to their doctors or nurses about what’s best for their own babies.
Wich is the best formula when u are hic positive mum to give to your baby
Hi Titi,
Babies who are born to positive mothers need to be either exclusively breastfeed or bottle feed with formula, they cannot be mixed fed.
hie, my son is 5 weeks and on breast milk only, he is on nevirapine as well. can i give him formula as well?am asking because i will have to resume work in december and hence breastfeeding might be a bit hard for me.