Question

12 comments

1. Josh Peasegood • 2 November 2022

   Hi Phila, congratulations on having a baby. You have an excellent viral load – you can continue to breastfeed. In fact it is recommended that you do breast feed (for the first 6 months do not mix feed). Is baby on their own medication? This will further reduce the risk of transmission, though as your viral load is still considered ‘undetectable’ the risk is already negligible.

   While there has been a change in your viral load, this is still a normal change. There are a number of factors that can change the result that is not a cause for concern e.g., recent vaccine/illness, a random blip or a lab error. Your result does not require a second test as the change is minimal.

2. Phila • 2 November 2022

   Hy ive give birth to my boy he’s negative my problem is my vl was 22 and again dey tested me again was 57vl den last September dey took me for varil its came back saying 57 so der sisters stop me froom breastfeeding so my warry is its possible for my boy to have it

3. Simon Collins • 24 July 2021

   Hi Lonah, thanks, congratulations on your new baby. This must be a special time and I hope you are well. Please talk to your doctor or clinic about your plans.

   It will be okay to change to formula milk but the doctor can talk about how to do this and give you support. Sometimes this is different depending on which country you live in. Once you change to formula milk it is better not to breastfeed again.

   It is also good and important that go go back to school :)

4. Lonah • 24 July 2021

   Hi
   I’m HIV positive and breastfeeding. My viral load is undetectable. My baby was negative after birth and is now 3 months old.

   Because I need to go back to school now I need to change from breast to formula.

   Is it safe to change from breast to formula? And if yes what are the risk?

5. Roy Trevelion • 6 March 2019

   Hi Joyce,

   Thanks for our comment and congratulations on your new baby.

   It’s good that you are on ART with an undetectable VL. So you are doing all you can to protect your baby.

   But yes you’re right, it’s not recommended to mix feed with breast milk and formula. It’s good that you have decided to formula feed only.

   Can you talk to the nurse about feeding your baby? You can also talk about any worries you have. It would be good to have the clinic’s support. It can help keep you informed about feeding him.

6. Joyce • 5 March 2019

   Hi

   Im on ART and my vl is undetactable..i have a 1 week baby i breast feed him during the day and my sister formula feed him at night.hes on 6 weeks treatment too. Today i found out that m not suppose to mix feed when hiv positive..its been a week doing that is my baby exposed? M changing to fomular feed only now

7. Roy Trevelion • 10 September 2018

   Hi Anne,
   It’s great that you’re viral load is undetectable and you’re benefitting from HIV treatment (ART). 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.

   Without ART, one in four babies born to HIV positive women will be born HIV positive. But ART can almost completely prevent transmission of HIV.

   Here’s the guide to HIV, pregnancy and women’s health.

8. Anne • 10 September 2018

   Hi my viral load is undetectable, and I’m 7 months pregnant, is it possible to pass it on to my unborn baby

9. Lisa Thorley • 2 August 2018

   Hi Gal,

   Yes its OK to change from breast milk to formula milk. Babies usually don’t need water until they are older.

10. Gal • 2 August 2018

    Can I stop breastfeeding at 3 months and give my baby formula and water?