Question
Will my baby have HIV?
15 December 2016. Related: All topics, Children, Newly diagnosed, Pregnancy.
I’m HIV positive and I started taking meds on the second month of my pregnancy. I gave birth not knowing my viral load and my baby is now 6 days old and is taking nevirapine. What are the chances of him getting infected? I am also breast-feeding.
Answer
Thanks for getting in touch, and congratulations on the birth of your baby.
The chances of transmitting HIV to babies is dramatically reduced if a woman’s viral load is undetectable at delivery. In most cases this happens within 1-3 months of starting meds. Sometimes it might take longer if viral load was very high when starting.
Because you started treatment early in your pregnancy, it is very likely that your viral load was undetectable. However, without knowing your results, I cannot be sure of this.
When you gave birth did you have a vaginal delivery? If you did, was this supported by your doctor? If it was, then this may be an indication that your VL was undetectable.
You being on treatment is important as this will also protect the baby while you are breastfeeding.
It is also good that your baby is taking meds as this will give extra protection.
This means there is a really good chance your baby will not have HIV.
The meds for the baby will help this and then testing is the only way to finally find out. Unfortunately, it takes a while for the testing to show this.
For more on infants and testing, please see the following:
https://i-base.info/guides/pregnancy/hiv-negative
Hi Lebo,
If you are also on HIV treatment and as well as your baby, it sounds like you’re doing the best you can.
But what you can do is discuss your treatment and your baby’s treatment with the doctor. You can also ask about the best way to feed your baby.
Here is the guide to HIV pregnancy and women’s health.
My baby is 1 month and I m HIV positive I don’t know my baby is HIV positive I give him Cipla Nevirapine. what can I do
Hi Phindile,
It sounds like you’re doing all you can to help your baby. That’s great. But it’s important that your doctor looks at your baby to find out why she’s in pain.
Please see the doctor as soon as you can.
Hi my baby is taking NVP and she 3weeks old now she has flue what must I give her coz I can see she is in pain I’m not breastfeeding and my viral load is ok .
Hi Patricia,
Yes its possible to switch your child from breastmilk to formula. It is in fact the prefered method in a lot of coutries are it carries no risk.
I hv a 5day old child nd um positive…is it okay to change him to bottlefeed nd not breastfeed anymore
Hi Lele,
Newborn babies are all given a short course of HIV meds if there mothers are HIV positive. In some countries mothers can exclusively breastfeed their babies for 6 months, and then wean their baby onto soft food.
But you are doing all you can to protect your baby from HIV by taking your ARVs and keeping your viral load low.
Here’s the guide to HIV pregnancy and women’s health.
Hi, I’m positive and breastfeeding I finished giving nevirapine to baby now my pediatrician says even if I breastfeed I won’t be given anymore meds for baby I just have to take my arvs to keep my viral load low. How true is this?
Hi Vivian,
If you think your baby is ready, then yes. A few weeks either side of 6 months won’t make any real difference.
my baby is 5 months 2weeks am HIV positive can I start weaning him,he is just 2weeks to 6 months