Question
Can I switch back to exclusive breastfeeding?
25 August 2023. Related: All topics, Children, HIV transmission.
Hi, I am HIV positive with a 4 weeks + 2 days old baby. I’ve been on ARVs for over 10 years and my VL is undetected. My baby was given zidovudine which she took for 28 days and was on formula for only 2 days after birth. I switched her to exclusive breastfeeding from 2 days after birth till today, but I was admitted for 24 hours watch today as I went for postpartum visit because my blood pressure was high. Now my family had to give my baby formula as the ran out of my expressed breast milk at home, can I still go back to breastfeeding her when I get back home? Thanks.
Answer
Hi, how are you doing?
Congratulations on having a baby.
Yes you can switch back to exclusive breastfeeding.
As you are on treatment with an undetectable viral load and baby has been given a course of Zidovudine, the risk of transmission is very low.
As you have been exclusively breastfeeding since, the risk has remained minimal.
While mixed feeding is not encouraged, as this was only one day when baby was given formula it would still be more beneficial to switch baby back to exclusive breastfeeding.
Josh.
Hi Winz, congratulations on having a baby. It is great to hear that you are on treatment with an undetectable viral load. Switching between feeds is not recommended. This is because moving between the two types can irritate baby’s tummy. It is this irritation that can increase the risk of transmission even when both of you are on treatment.
Exclusively using one type of feed until baby is 6 months old (+ how many weeks early baby was). At this point there is no continued risk of increased transmission.
This being said, there is added benefit to breastfeeding. Unfortautnely heating your breastmilk will not eliminate the risk which is why this is not recommended. However if you are you able to completely switch back to breastfeeding and continue exclusively until baby is the right age to mix feeding, the risk is minimal and the benefits of breastfeeding is a bigger benefit.
Hi please i am a positive mother who is on ART and has achieved an undetectable viral load. I recently gave birth to a premature baby who is 8 weeks currently. I exclusively breastfeed for a month and then started giving formula due to inadequate milk supply and because my baby was a preemie, the doctors prescribed preemie formula for us and that is what we gave her for the past 1 month now and her weight is now ok. Can i still go back and start breastfeeding or give my expressed pre heated breast milk to baby for the nutritional value in addition to her formula? since my baby and i are on medication and my VL is Low?