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.
Hey can an infant with an HIV mother drink both formula and breastmilk?
Hi Innocious,
If you’re asking if it’s OK to go back to breastfeeding after switching to formula, this will depend on how long you’ve been bottle feeding as well as whether your viral load is undetectable or not. Also, it all depends on where you live. In the UK babies born to positive mothers are advised to only give formula.
Hi I’m hiv positive and breastfeeding.I choose to stop because of being scared I start bottle feeding for few hours and I miss my baby so much I her back to breast but know I don’t know what to do plz help
Hi Sarah,
That’s right, all baby’s need to take a short course of HIV drugs for the first weeks of life, if their mother is HIV positive.
But please talk to your doctor or nurse about the best way for you to feed your baby.
And can I ask how your HIV treatment (ART) is going? The benefits of ART are not just to your own health. Treating your HIV will reduce the risk of your baby becoming HIV positive to almost zero.
Do you have access to your viral load and CD4 count? Please let us know, and also tell us what meds you’re taking.
And here’s the guide to HIV pregnancy and women’s health. There’s info in this guide for after your baby is born.
Im also HIV postive and im breatsfeed my son since form his birth and at the cilnic they gave a med to give him each an everyday, so what are the chance of him to be HIV postive.
Hi Sammy,
All HIV positive mothers in the UK are recommended not to breastfeed. This is regardless of their CD4, viral load or ART. Please see more information at this link in the guide to HIV, pregnancy and women’s health.
However, this can change and depends on which country you live in. For example, in countries where there might not be easy access to formula, the WHO recomends exclusively breastfeeding only for six months. Then your baby can be weaned onto soft food.
Hello
Nay sayers keeps on telling me that,by not giving my baby breast milk his development will be hampered.
Hi Sammy,
Could you be more specific please, what do you mean by difficulties?
Hello
Giving the baby formula exclusively what difficulties will he face when growing up?
Hi Sammy,
Its ok to give babies different brands of formula milk, this wont’ have any impact on their possible status.