Question
My baby is struggling to gain weight. Do they have HIV?
6 May 2023. Related: All topics, Children.
Hi, I’m HIV positive. Just gave birth, she’s two weeks old. On nevairapine. My baby is struggling to gain weight, does that mean she’s HIV positive? She was negative at birth. She eats enough on formula feeding. Her test is in 6 weeks just worried.
Answer
Hi, how are you doing?
Congratulations on having a baby.
No. This does not mean baby is HIV positive.
After birth a baby will lose some weight and only regain this in the first 2 weeks. Baby should now be the weight they were when they were born.
After this a baby usually gains 30 grams (1 ounce) a day for the first month.
Josh.
Hi Thabisile, congratulations on having a baby. How old are they?
No. Not gaining weight does not mean baby is HIV positive? Are both you and baby on treatment? and do you know your viral load?
How is baby feeding? and are they keeping their feed down or are they vomiting? and aside from apparently not gaining weight how are they doing in general?
Has there been any concerns by your doctor/health visitor about baby’s weight?
hi,am hiv positive and my baby born hiv negative but gaib weight to much its my baby postive