Question
My viral load is high, can I breastfeed?
21 August 2019. Related: All topics, CD4 and viral load, Pregnancy.
My daughter is 3 weeks old. I’ve not been breastfeeding her because I didn’t have very much milk. I now have a lot of milk. Is it OK to switch from formula to breast milk even if my viral load is high?
Answer
Thanks for getting in touch.
If your viral load is detectable and especially if it is high, you need to keep to formula milk.
Otherwise, there is a high risk that your baby will become HIV positive.
Feeding guidelines for infants vary depending on where it is that a person lives. Breastfeeding in only recommended in some countries when viral load is undetectable.
With a high viral load there is a high risk of HIV transmission.
Also, for your own health, do you know why your viral load is detectable?
Are you taking HIV medicines? If yes, is your doctor planning to change these?
Hi nrg, we alsways say to talk to your doctor or clinic about questions relating to breastfeeding. This is because advice varries depending on your health and the country you are living in. A viral load of 160 can just be a blip or test error though. It is a good idea to retest the viral load again as it might already be undetectable without needing to so anything.
I was told my viral load is 160 am breastfeeding is there a risk in transmitting the virus to my 2 months old baby am very worried because of late she has flue and has been coughing for a week
Hi Kpp, all questions like this need to be things to discuss with your doctor and care team. This is because they know your detailed history and circumstances. Advice can also be different depending on which country you are living in.
135 is still a very low viral load though and being even and hour or two early or late will not affect this or your baby.
Please speak to one of your health workers though now.
My viral load is 135 and I am breastfeeding.Is my baby safe or must I stop to breast feed .am taking treatment but I am forgetting time to take I use to take 17min late or 10min early and my baby is on medicine his 8weeks now.should I continue?
Hi Yolandi, plese speak to your clinic for information and support about your babies health. Your viral load is so low that this is not likely to have been a risk. Please do not worry, but to speak to the clinic so that you are okay going forwards.
I was not well educated about hiv transmission i give my baby a formula twice and porridge and breastfeed at the sametime while am hiv positive with Viral of 42 copieswhat a the chances of my baby to be infected am really worried decided to continue with formula she’s 5 months and 2weeks old stopped nvp at 6weeks
Hi Monica, congratulations on having a baby. Using breastmilk on baby’s skin is not going to risk transmission, however breastmilk is not a treatment for nappy rash.
Nappy rash can be prevented/treated with creams from a pharmacy. You do not need to see a doctor to get this cream, you can speak with your pharmacist and they will be able to advise what cream to use to help with baby’s nappy rash.
My viral load is 50 copies my baby had bad nappy rash and I used my breast milk to heal it will she be infected