Question
Can I stop breastfeeding at 3 months?
2 May 2017. Related: All topics, Children.
Can I stop breastfeeding at 3 months instead of 6 cause my family doesn’t know and I have to go back to work.
Answer
Thanks for getting in touch.
How long you breastfeed for is up to you. If you want to stop at 3 months then you can. If you’d like to continue to give your baby your milk, you could express it and give it to them in a bottle. Is this something that you’ve thought about?
If you do stop giving them your milk, its better that you don’t mix feed.
Hi Dodo,
This all depends on where you live as guidelines vary from country to country. Are you on treatment? Is your viral load undetectable? If you’ve had your baby are they on medication?
How long should a HIV positive mom should breastfeed?
Hi Thembi,
As Lisa says on this question how long you beastfeed is up to you. But guidelines recommend breastfeeding exclusively for six months and then weaning your baby onto solid food. But it’s not recommended to mix feed with bottle and breastmilk.
Do I stop breastfeeding as soon he turns 6months or even when his 7months?
Hi Mirriam,
Your question has been answered here, Can an HIV positive mother safely breastfeed her baby? The answer mentions the PROMISE study. You can see that mothers were on 3 drugs for HIV treatment (ART) and the babies were on just 1 drug.
In the UK though it’s recommended not to breastfeed. But in countries with less access to formula milk and clean water the recommendation is to breastfeed exclusively for 6 months and then wean baby onto solid food. It’s not recommended to mix feed with breastmilk and bottle.
When breastfeeding and both the mother and the child on treatment,does the treatment not gonna affect the baby in that breastfeeding period?
I have been scared to fall pregnant when thinking of breastfeeding!!!
Hi Lesedi,
As Lisa says here, if you want to stop at 4 months then you can. If you do stop giving them your milk, its better that you don’t mix feed.
I’m HIV positive mom and baby is 4 months, can I stop breastfeeding and give her formula and baby food?
Hi Andiswa,
As Lisa says, how long you breastfeed is up to you. And it’s great that your viral load is only 10. It’s not recommended that you mix feed with breast and formula milk. This might be important too when weaning your baby onto solid food. Mixing breastfeeding and solid food might slightly increase risk. But keeping yourself healthy and your viral load at undetectable is the way to help protect your baby.
I’m HIV positive my baby is 2 months am breast feeding so is it safe to breast feeding for 12 month’s I’m on treatment viral load is 10