Question
Can I breastfeed while taking treatment?
1 March 2023. Related: All topics, Pregnancy.
Please, I have been talking my HIV drugs for like 8 years. I have 3 boys already, didn’t breastfeed them because am afraid but now am pregnant with a baby girl that I have been looking for and no money for formula feeding. I don’t know if am undetectable and am afraid to breastfeed my baby because they file my results. They don’t tell us about it, can I breastfeed ?
Answer
Hi, how are you doing?
Congratulations on having another baby.
How often are you being tested? Have you asked to see your results? As the results are about you the clinic should be sharing this information with you.
As you have been on treatment for so long it is likely that you have a suppressed, if not undetectable viral load. This means that is is safe to breastfeed. Baby will also be given their own medication after brith. This is explained here.
Breastfeeding is recommended even when HIV positive. This is because breastfeeding is free and will have the complete nutritional requirements for the baby. Depending on how formula is made up, this is not always the case which is why this is a recommendation.
Josh.
Hi Tash, yes it is safe to take during pregnancy. It is advised to take a vitamin B6 supplement while taking it as Isoniazid can reduce how much B6 is in the body.
Hello josh. Can I take isoniazid while pregnant. I’m taking arvs already long before I got pregnant. But I’ve Been taking isoniazid for 4 months and I’m 2 months pregnant. I don’t have tb. Took it as a preventative. Will it affect my child in my womb