Question
I want to breastfeed my baby, is this safe?
5 June 2015. Related: All topics, Pregnancy, Southern Africa.
I am in South Africa on treatment and when i give birth i want to breastfeed my baby. Is this safe?
Answer
Hi,
The Atripla you are taking should help protect your baby from becoming positive while you are pregnant.
Usually it is strongly recommended that positive mothers feed their babies using formula. This is because there is a risk of it passing to your child. If you cannot access this or cannot afford it it is important to stay on your meds while you are breastfeeding. It is also important to switch back and forth between breastfeeding and formula – this could be more risky than using one method.
You can find more information about feeding your baby in our online guide.
If you can get formula milk and bottles you should feed your baby that way. But if not, you can breast feed your baby so long as you are on treatment and your viral load is below 50. It’s important to stick to one way or the other. Switching between bottle feeding and breast feeding increases the risk to your baby’s health.
You can find out more information about breast feeding and having a baby here:
http://i-base.info/guides/pregnancy/feeding-your-baby
http://i-base.info/guides/pregnancy
Can I give my baby formula milk or breastfeed?