Q and A

Question

Can I change from breastfeeding my baby to formula milk?

Hi, I am HIV + and I take my ART very well. My baby tested negative on the first day of birth on the second day the results were insufficient but on the 3rd day the results were negative again …..I am breast feeding and giving my baby nevarapine but I am planning on stopping  breast feeding after a month and formula feed because I will not be always around to take care of baby. I am avoiding mix feeding, is this wise?

Answer

Hi

Thanks for your question and congratulations on your new baby. It sound like you are doing an amazing job of looking after your baby and the test results are really good.

Because guidelines for breastfeeding are linked to where you live, including the country and if this is in the city or countryside, please ask your doctor or nurse these questions.

i-Base is in the UK and guidelines in SA are sometimes different.

You are right that if it us important to exclusively use either breastfeeding only or formula milk only. If your circumstance make it important to change this is also usually okay, but your clinic can give you the best information about how and when to do this.

62 comments

  1. Josh Peasegood

    Hi Shumani, do you want to completely switch to formula? If this is the case it would be safe to do this. Yes giving baby nevirapine is good. Are you on treatment and do you know your viral load? Regardless of how baby is fed, it is still recommended to continue with nevirapine until baby is at least 6 weeks old.

  2. Shumani

    Hi my baby is one month 5 days today I was breastfeeding so now I want to stop an give him formula an am also giving him nevirapine so is it good for him or what

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