Question
Will my baby be okay now I stopped giving him water?
2 January 2018. Related: All topics, Children, Pregnancy.
My baby is 3 weeks 6 days, he is formula feeding and i just recently found out that i should not be giving him water when he is on nevirapine and i have stopped. What negative effects does this have on my son?
Answer
Hi
You are right that your baby doesn’t need water or any other foods – just the formula milk.
Now you have change to this it will be better.
Your son is likely to be fine now, but it is also good for your doctor and nurse to advise you on this.
Congratulations on your new son too.
Hello Onele and thanks for getting in touch.
Many congratulations on your newborn! You must be very excited.
Please discuss with your doctor about the rash.
HIV infection is not directly related to a rash but this could mean that your baby is reacting to something else, however it is also very common that babies develop rashes related to soap used for them or their clothes.
As for the mixed feeding, please discuss this with your doctor and midwife.
The advice in the UK, where I am based is towards choosing between breastfeeding or formula milk but we also know that in other parts of the world mixed feeding in also practiced.
See here more information about breastfeeding:
https://bhiva.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/BF-Leaflet-1.pdf
https://bhiva.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/BF-Leaflet-2.pdf
Hi, I’m breastfeeding my baby is 7 weeks 4 days, I just found out that my sister when I’m at work she’s giving my child a formula now my child got a rash in the face so is that the means is infected?
Hello Lira and thanks for getting in touch.
Congratulations on your new baby! You must be very excited!
Please don’t worry.
Formula milk has zero risk for your baby.
In the UK the guidelines suggest to choose between formula and breast milk as it has been discovered that mixing the two might increase the risk of HIV transmission.
We know however in practice that this is not always the case.
You could go to fully using formula milk if you feel this fits better your lifestyle and needs.
I am sending you these information leaflets to help you understand better the risk and your options:
https://bhiva.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/BF-Leaflet-1.pdf
https://bhiva.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/BF-Leaflet-2.pdf
Hi am Lira, I am Hiv positive and breastfeeding. Sometimes I am not around cause I am looking for a job so my mum gave my 2 months old son a formula but he tested negative
Hello Phiwo and thanks for getting in touch.
Congratulations on the new baby and for managing to get your viral load to undetectable and keep it there.
Your baby is not at risk as long as you are undetectable.
Starting the formula also eliminates any risk for the baby.
Well done to you for looking after your baby so well.
Hi I just found out that after six weeks of breastfeedding my viral load is less than 20.
After the six weeks of breastfeeding I switched to formula. Is my baby still fine?