Question
I missed a dose of ARVs while breastfeeding. Is my baby at risk?
26 January 2022. Related: Adherence, All topics, Children.
Hi, I missed taking my ARVs last night and I’m breastfeeding, will this affect my baby? The reason I missed my dose is because i’m visiting home so I left them at my place. Can I continue breastfeeding until my next dose tonight or must I take it immediately when I get them from the clinic?
Answer
Hi, how are you doing?
Congratulations on your new baby. Missing a single dose is not going to risk yours or your babies health. You can continue taking your ARVs as you normally do, there is no need to take an additional dose.
HIV medication remains active in the body longer than 24 hours. Missing a single dose is not a long enough time for the medication to stop working. It is also not enough time for HIV to start replicating. You can continue to breastfeed your baby in this time.
Josh.
Hello Letlhogonolo and thanks for getting in touch.
Congratulations on your new baby. You must be very happy.
Please don’t worry. Missing your medication for 3 or 4 days will not compromise your health or make you lose the undetectable status.
Restart your medication as soon as possible though or try formula feeding if you can’t have access to your meds within the next one or two days.
You can read about breastfeeding here:
https://i-base.info/qa/25786
https://i-base.info/guides/pregnancy/feeding-your-baby
Hi I’m HIV (undetectable)and I missed 4 dose, the reason is I traveled nd I forgot them at home. I’m breastfeeding is my baby at Risk
Hello Helina and thanks for the question.
Congratulations on the new baby. You must be very happy.
Please don’t worry. Finding out you are living with HIV at birth is unlucky but sometimes it happens.
It’s more possible for your baby to be living with HIV than if you had received treatment during pregnancy but sometimes this is not possible.
During delivery and in the first months of life doctors give medication to the babies that have been found to lower the risk.
Please follow your doctor’s advice for the next steps.
The good news are we have now better treatments for mothers and their children that are well tolerated and have minimal side effects.
Your baby will be tested regularly for the next couple of years before the doctors can tell you with certainty if it is living with HIV.
Please read this information for people who just found out they are living with HIV:
https://i-base.info/just-found-out/
Feel free to stay in touch if you want to discuss this more.
I have given birth without knowing that I am hiv positive and delivered at 7 months. Can my child be positive?
Hello Anna and thank you for the message.
In the UK it is recommended that you choose one of the two: breastfeeding or formula milk.
However, evidence from some African countries suggest the risk for HIV is not increased if you do both at the same time.
The advice might be different in your country.
It’s best to discuss with a healthcare professional.
These are links to the BHIVA guidance, you might find helpful:
https://www.bhiva.org/file/5bfd3080d2027/BF-Leaflet-1.pdf
https://www.bhiva.org/file/5bfd308d5e189/BF-Leaflet-2.pdf
I’m breastfeeding but my baby is not getting enough milk and giving Infant milk after breastfeeding is it ohk.
Hello and many thanks for the question.
Congratulations on the new baby. You must be very happy.
Please don’t worry. Missing one dose of your ARVs is ok.
It happens to everyone. Your baby is safe.
Are you getting enough support with the baby?
We know that women with babies sometimes they don’t look after themselves very much.
Please remember that to take care of your baby, you first need to be well and healthy.
Please contact us again if you want more information.
Hi. I missed a single dose yesterday. And I am undetectable. But I never missed giving my daughter hers. And I am breastfeeding will this infect her.