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 Nkululeko,
Yes, as Lisa says on the similar question above, you can change to formula. If you do this you must not mix feed with breastfeeding and formula. Good luck at Varsity, I hope it all goes well.
Im hiv + my vl is undetectable and i am breastfeeding, now i want to switch her to formula since i have to return back to varsity n she is only 3 weeks old n on meds….is it safe?
Hi Glory,
Babies born to positive mothers who breastfeed should use nerirapine for the whole duration that they are breastfeed.
Please is it advisable to give a baby nevirapine so as long as he is exclusively breast feed ie within 6months of age after the first 6weeks ie a prophylaxis dose
Hi Amanda,
You missing a pill won’t have had any effect on your viral load.
I’m HIV I go 2 labour word so I take my pills at 21:00 so the pain it’s over my bby boy come at22:40 what happened my bby is safe coz I didn’t take the pills that day
Hi Tsholofelo,
Its not recommended to mix feed babies, so breast and formula. Your baby will need to be on one or the other. Its common to think that a baby may not be getting enough milk when they are first born. If they are putting on weight then they are. Talking to your babies health care provider should help.
im an hiv mother and my baby is a week old, im breastfeeding her and it seems like my breast milk is not enough so my family they already thinking of giving her formula as well as breastfeeding, will my baby girl be infected or will anything go wrong
Hi Vovo,
Your baby shouldn’t get other infections because you are formula feeding only. It’s great that your baby tested HIV negative. But you can talk to the doctor about your baby’s general health if you are worried.
What other infections should a baby get when you did formula feeding only. I’m hiv+ and undetectable . my baby is test negative