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 would like to ask what will happen if you give the baby cotrimoxazole at anytime of the day but everyday you do give the baby meds?
Hi Florish, from 6 months baby can be started with solid foods. Mixed feeding after 6 months is not going to increase the risk of HIV transmission. This is a link about starting to wean: https://www.nhs.uk/start4life/weaning/
Hi, I’m a HIV positive mother, my viral load is undetectable and breastfeeding my baby (she was nevirapine for 2months) for almost six months now how do I wean her off breastfeeding
Hi Tee, congratulations on having a baby. I am sorry to hear about her complications. Are you on treatment? If you are breastfeeding now and not using formula, there will not be an increased risk of transmission. If you are on treatment, the risk for this is already very small. Making sure you only breastfeed from now on helps to keep this risk minimal. Is baby on their own medication?
Hi my name is Tee,,I am hiv positive mom with a 10 days baby girl, first days of birth I didn’t produced any milk on my breast so at hospital,and my baby was in admitted in high care because of complications they gave her formula to keep her going,then after 3 days we have been discharged I started breastmilk her,,now I’m worried could she been in danger?..
Hi Mmatala, congratulations on having a baby. Is baby now only being formula fed? As you have stopped breastfeeding there is no further risk of HIV transmission. Is baby on any medication still? Usually one more test is required to confirm their status, but this will depend on where you are. This is a test to make sure that they are HIV negative commonly done 6 weeks after breastfeeding stops.
Hy i am Mmatlala
I am having a 6 weeks son and he tested hiv-for the first birth test,and i stopped breastfeeding him at the age of 1 month, so my question is what are chances of to be posetive,and have given water and muthi wenyoni and other herbal tea..please help
Hi Lovey, thanks – and congratulations on your new baby. Other than the medicines from your docotr, a new baby doesn’t need anything other than milk. Panado syrup will not help your baby sleep and the website say this is not for a baby under 3 months old. Please talk to your clinic about this too. Best wishes.
Hi.. Im lovey and HIV +.. I have a 5 week old son tested negetive at birth he is taking Adco zidovudine syrup.. He cries a lot at day and night, can i give my son at least panado syrup to easy him?
Hi Monica, congratulations on having a baby. This is not bad. You can continue to feed baby until they no longer want breastfeeding/weaning to solids. In most cases nevirapine is not given longer than 12 weeks, usually only 6 if you are on treatment with a suppressed viral load. Still giving baby nevirapine will not hurt baby, but there is no longer any benefit.