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 Phindile, how old is baby? and what is your viral load?
Yes you can stop breastfeeding. If you do switch to formula it is recommended to only formula feed and not continue breastfeeding alongside formula.
Hi my viral load is high can I stop breast feeding
Hi Thabisile, congratulations on having a child. Is your baby on any medication themselves?
Breastfeeding is recommended. You are not putting baby at risk. Are you only breastfeeding? There can be an increased risk of transmission if you mix feed (breast and formula). As your viral load is suppressed there is very little risk of transmission and this will be reduced with baby having their own medication.
My viral load is 124 n am breastfeeding is my child at risk
Hi Shantel, congratulations on having a baby. Is baby on their own medication? and have you started taking your own medication?
Hi my viral load is too high and I wasn’t taking my medication while pregnant ,when I delivered I breastfeeded the baby but her results came nagetive ,is possible that the second results might come otherwise
My child is 3months and m HIV positve. He testtested twice with result of negative and recently my viral load is too high in I’ve been breastfeeding. Can he contact HIV from me?
Hi Tebago, congratulations on having a baby. How high is your viral load?
Transmission risk is very from mother to baby is very low. Are you and/or your baby on any medication, or have you been?
As he has already tested negative it is likely that he will remain HIV negative. Has anything changed from when he has this test and your viral load going up/down?
Hi Ayanda, your viral load is excellent. This will greatly reduce the risk of transmission when breastfeeding. Are both you and baby taking ARVs?
My viral load is 109 and I’m breastfeeding is my child will effected also?