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 Anonymous,
With formula there’s no risk, so it’s OK to change to formula.
I’m HIV positive mom and I’m breastfeeding …my son is 2months and I want to change him from breastfeeding to formula feeding so I want to know what are the chances of him getting infected when I switch to formula since he’s 2months
Hi HH,
It’s not recommended as it could increase the risk of infection to the baby. How ever, infant feeding guidelines vary depending on where someone lives as the following explains- https://www.aidsmap.com/about-hiv/feeding-your-baby-when-you-have-hiv
Hi, why formula and breast milk is not recommend to fed a baby at same time when a mother is on treatment.
Hi Anonymous,
Yes you can change to formula, this won’t be a problem. Your baby is far to young to be given solid foods, solid foods should be introduce when a baby is roughly 6 months old. If you start giving your baby solids at this age, there’s an increased risk to their health.
My baby is on nvp,and am on treatment …his two months old,I’ve been breastfeeding can I change to formula and feed him baby food like purity and staff …I don’t know his status yet,won’t that affect his status?
Hi Ms,
All babies born to positive mothers need to take a course of ARVs, please see here: https://i-base.info/guides/pregnancy/will-baby-need-hiv-drugs Yes ARVs can be taken with formula.
Hi im hiv positive my bby is one week and i feed him with formula can i continue give him nvp?
Hi Kat,
If your viral load is detectable it’s important that you don’t breastfeed, if you do you risk infecting your child.
Why is your viral load high, are you new to treatment? If you’re not new to treatment how long have you been taking it for?
Hi um hiv positive ND my bby is on nvp should I breastfeed cos my viral load is high, um worried if she can get hiv