Question
My family are giving my baby water, is this OK?
4 April 2017. Related: All topics, Children.
I’m HIV+ mother and my baby is 3wèeks old . My CD4 count was 311 and undetectable viral load. I’m breastfeeding her and my family don;t know about my status. She tested HIV – n. Shes taking her meds as well (nvp). My worry is that now my mom believe the baby needs water so we giving her water almost every day and my breast milk is not enough for her as shes always sucking me. They say she doesn’t get full so we must feed her. I would to know what are the chances of my baby being HIV +
Answer
Thanks for getting in touch.
And congratulations on the birth of your daughter. Its also great to hear that she’s already tested negative.
Your family giving your daughter won’t influence her possible status. However, babies who are this young don’t need water. What they need is milk, and milk alone. If you feel like you aren’t producing enough milk, you may need to change to formula. However, if you do this, you must not mix feed.
The best thing to do would be to speak to your babies doctor. They will be able to tell you if she’s growing or not. If its any help some babies suckle more than others.
Hi MC.
Its not possible to say for sure that a baby is negative at 5 months. This is why babies need to be tested when they are 18months old. Please see here for more info:
http://i-base.info/guides/pregnancy/hiv-negative
If you want to give your baby solid foods you can. Its important however that you don’t mix formula and breast milk.
I would like to ask if am on atroiza treatment and breastfeeding mybaby who is negative , so would like to ask if I continue breastfeeding my baby and feed him baby food and drinks at 5 months 2 weeks will mybaby be infected
Hi Ds,
The nevirapine is an ARV, its common practice to give it to babies who are born to HIV positive mothers. The bactrim is an antibiotic, and is used for various things. Please see here:
http://www.tabletwise.com/southafrica/doctrim-suspension
As to why your daughter has been given this, I can’t say. Therefore, you will need to ask her doctor.
Testing in babies should ideally be done when they are first born. This however doesn’t always happen. Her being testing when she’s 10 weeks old however, is a good thing. For more about testing in babies, please see here:
http://i-base.info/guides/pregnancy/hiv-negative
I gave birth to a baby girl, and I’m HIV positive. I don’t know her status, she is 8 weeks. The clinic will only test her when she’s 10 weeks. She was given nevaraphin medication to take everyday. At her 6 week check up they gave her doctim suspension. I’m really confused, is there something wrong? I’m on treatment.
Hi DK,
Babies as young as 6 weeks old shouldn’t be given solid food. All they need is milk. If you aren’t sure how to feed your baby, please speak to a health care worker.
Yes, I’ll do that. My other concern is that we have started giving her baby food and purity prunes because she would cry a lot and she can’t make bowl movements. We’ve decided to give her cream of maize for babies. I don’t know if I should be worried or what she seem to enjoy it. She’s 6 weeks old.
Hi DK,
Thanks for getting back to us.
Like I’ve said, it isn’t recommend that you mix feed. Therefore you will either have to express milk, or change to formula milk. Would it be possible to just use formula and tell your parents that this is what you’ve decided to do?
No I’m breadfeeding her and I’ve an undetectable viral load. I’m currently not sexual active and did talk to my baby’s Aunt about my status as it was hard for me during pregnancy.
I’m going back to work in July and my parents wants me to mix feed the baby, by then she will be four months. They say the breast milk won’t be enough if I pump it for a day. I don’t know what to do or say because they don’t know about my status and I’m not planing to tell them,they very old and sensitive .
Hi DK,
How are things now going with your baby? Have you switched to formula?
For information about testing in babies, please see here:
http://i-base.info/guides/pregnancy/hiv-negative
Someone leaving you because you’re positive can be hard. Have you been able to talk about this with anyone? As for the status of your ex boyfriend, I can’t really comment on this. If you’re wondering how you contracted HIV you will need to think of any risks that you may have taken.
Thank you for the response. Can her results change or they will stay like this until she’s old? Her father tested negative, but the nurses told me that he is HIV positive, but not showing yet. He left me when I told him I was positive, that was when I was also pregnant.