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
I’m a single mother who is working I was supposed to go back at work yesterday but I couldn’t bcz I don’t produce enough milk to the bottle that I will leave for him to eat during the day of my absent, now I want to know if it’s OK to give my babe a breast milk when I’m around with him and when I go at work then give him a formula I’m also taking my medication every day and I also give him nevaripe is it possible for him to be infected
Hi Tee, it is still best to give baby Novatrim at the same time each day. Being regular with the time of medication makes sure it will be as effective as it can be.
Hi I’m Tee
Thank you so much for your info..
So do I give her this Novatrim same time everyday or even if it’s not same time will be still fine?.
Hi Amanda, congratulations on having a baby. Co-trimoxazole is usually stopped when baby is no longer breastfeeding. It is best that this is a discussion with your doctor but when no longer breastfeeding, there is no further risk of transmitting other infections to baby.
Hi am Amanda am HIV+ and my daughter is in co-trimaxazole,my question is ,when can she stop taking it?is it to stop her taking when she stops breastfeeding?
Hi Florida, congratulations on having a baby. Are you giving nevirapine everyday? how do you give it to her when she is sleeping?
Hi I’m Lolo I want to ask about my baby she is 18days now and on nevirapine I want to know if is it going to afact her coz sometimes she is sleeping the time to drink her Madison
Hi Tee, it is good that baby has stopped NVP. This means that transmission was low risk. After 6 weeks there is no further benefit to continue with NVP. Novatrim is a different medication. It is used to prevent bacterial infections instead of HIV. Baby can be on this for as long as they are breastfeeding.
Hi I’m Tee,,yes I’m on treatment and as well as my baby but she is 6 weeks now and first PCR was neg,,so they stopped her taking nvp she is now on novatrim…
Hi Lisa, baby should be given the meds at the same time every day. Changing the time of day can risk the level of medication in baby to fall below a useful level. Is there a time of the day that would be best to do this e.g., the same time you take your own medication?