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.
My baby is 6 weeks as was given doctrim and they also stop me from giving him Nevarapine..my viral load is undetected also not sexualy active at the moment can my baby contract HIV am exclusively breastfeeding him
Hi Naledi,
One insident of mixed feeding won’t affect your baby. If you’re going to continue to breastfeed your baby then she will need to be on the nevirapine.
Hi I need help urgently
My baby is 2months 6 days
She was on Nevira pine until now that I decided to give her 90ml of formula which it was difficult. I feel I want to reverse back to breastfeeding
Will that put her at risk of contracting hiv
Hi Kgomotso.
Babies under the age of 6 months don’t need to be given anything other than milk. So there’s no need to give your baby solid foods until they are ready for them.
Hi am + mom my baby is 3 weeks- on formula however I feel like giving her solid food as I have to return to work and I know the people I will leave her with will do that, I just want to know if it’ll affect her status in anyway
Hi Tumi,
If you want to breastfeed for longer than 6 weeks your baby will need to be on ARVs. This is a precautionary measure. As your viral load is undetectable unless you have other health issues there’s no reason why you cannot have a vaginal birth. Please see here: http://i-base.info/guides/pregnancy
Hi
I’m nine month pregnant with a cd4 of 440 and undetectable viral load. However my doctor has scheduled me for a c section in a week time. I wanted to breast feed for 6 months however they advised me that I can only breast feed for 6 weeks while my baby is still on NVP treatment after that I must use formula. I would like to know if my baby stops with NVP after 6 weeks and I continue with exclusive breast feeding will that affect my baby.
Hi Reugin.
No this wont’ expose your baby to HIV. However babies younger than 6 months don’t need solid food.
if i feed my two months baby solid food like cereal expose her to HIV
Hi Stephina,
Babies under the age of 6 months are per UK guidelines aren’t supposed to be given solid foods. Your baby is very young and doesn’t’ need them. Your daughter being given solid food won’t have any impact on her possibly being positive.