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.
I didn’t get it clearly that i must stop giving navirapin after six weeks i did continue for 3 weeks to finish the bottle before starting the batrim , could be my baby in risk now?
Hi Phindi,
It’s a good idea just to tell the doctor about this because you are worried. As Lisa says you shouldn’t mix feed with breast milk and formula. But tell the doctor that she is fully on breastmilk now.
Am hiv+ and my viral load is non dectatable and my baby tested negative at birth. She’s currently 6 weeks now, am breastfeeding but it happened that my mom gave the baby a formula for a week as the baby was crying alot because she doesn’t know my status.. And I ask her to stop so now the baby is on breast milk fully should I be worried
Hi Aubrey,
Starting soft solid foods usually begins when babies are around six months old. Please talk to your HIV doctor about this. Is it possible for your wife to feed her more often? As Lisa says above, if your wife is not producing enough milk you could change to formula. But it’s important not to mix feed with breast and formula milk. But please discuss this with your HIV doctor as it is important.
Good morning
My name is Aubrey,I have a four months daughter,we as parents we are hiv positive both taking treatment.our daughter she is been tested several times at the clinic and came out negative
She was given nevaropine for 6 weeks.And now my wife she is only breastfeeding her.my biggest problem is that my child for the past week she is been crying eating her fingers.she need something to eat.
I want to know if isx possible for us to feed her
Please help us
Regards
Mkhondo
Hi Rose,
A few incidents of mixed feeding should be OK. However if you’re going to change to formula then you’ll need to change to it and stick to it.
Hi
Am hiv+ and my baby tested negative after birth, am breastfeeding her but today I gave her formula as am trying to stop breastfeeding but I just felt so guilty for giving her formula cause she started crying and gave her breast milk minutes after that, my question is what are the chances of infecting her for mixfeeding her for a day?
Hi Nomalangq,
Its perfectly fine for you to switch from breastfeeding to formula, this won’t be an issue for your baby.
Hi my son tested negative and he will be going for on other test now on the 25 he was born 10 august he tested negative now I wanna give him formula because I’m a smoker and i m struggling to quit please advice wat must I do
Hi Gift,
Sorry for your loss.
This really isn’t something that we are in a position to comment on.