Question
Why has my baby been given Novatrim?
31 August 2023. Related: All topics, Children.
I went to the clinic I am HIV positive. They test my son, they didn’t give me the results but they gave me Novatrim suspension. I am not breast feeding for 3 weeks. Should I suspect that my son is positive or what is going on cause the nurse is very rude, I couldn’t ask her why we are using it?
Answer
Hi, how are you doing?
Congratulations on having a baby.
Are you on treatment yourself? and how old is baby now?
Have you been breastfeeding previously? Baby is often given Novatrim to prevent other infections that baby may be at risk of while breastfeeding. Is there a reason you are not breastfeeding for 3 weeks?
Being given Novatrim would not suggest that baby is positive. This is not a medication used to treat HIV. Have you been told to go back to the clinic at any point?
Josh.
Hi Kutlwano, congratulations on having a baby. There is no time for which you should stop breastfeeding. If both you are baby are happy to still breastfeed there is no problem.
It is unclear if you are HIV negative or positive? Do you know your viral load? and has baby been on any treatment themselves e.g., nevirapine and/or co-trimoxazole.
They didn’t tell me to stop breastfeeding and I am not a treatment I’m negative I was told to come back on 18/12/2023 my baby is 9 months
Hi Sendra, good to hear that you are going back to the clinic. As you are on treatment yourself this means risk to baby is very small and further suggests that baby is HIV negative. As you have stopped breastfeeding this next appointment will likely be a second test. This is used to confirm baby’s status.
My baby is 14 weeks I stopped breastfeeding 3 weeks ago they said I must go back on the 2/10/2023 for the child next appointment and yes iam on treatment myself.