Baby.mobi
CAN AN HIV POSITIVE MOTHER BREASTFEED?
Yes, recent evidence shows that mothers who are HIV-positive should exclusively breastfeed because of the many health and survival benefits to babies. During the breastfeeding period it is very important that the mother or baby should receive antiretroviral treatment or prophylaxis while breastfeeding.
Research also shows that when antiretroviral treatment or prophylaxis is used by either the mother or baby HIV transmission through breastfeeding is significantly reduced. Exclusively breastfed babies whose mothers are HIV-positive grow well and receive the nutritional benefits of breast milk like all babies. They are also at less risk of dying from diarrhoeal diseases and malnutrition than mixed-fed babies.
The likelihood of HIV transmission increases when there is higher viral load in the mother’s blood or breast milk - antiretroviral treatment or prophylaxis lowers the viral loads in the blood and in breast milk. This reduces the likelihood of mother-to-child transmission.
Should mom stop taking ARV’s while she is still breastfeeding baby needs to start taking Nevirapine - see below.
There are some things you should think about so that you can make the best choice for you and your baby.
If you choose to breast-feed you should not give your baby anything else to eat or drink for the first 6 months. Giving the baby anything else other than breast milk, like formula or even water, may irritate the stomach and gut and make small cuts in it. If breast milk containing HIV gets into these cuts HIV may be spread to the baby.
Remember....breast milk contains HIV and is one of the ways that it is passed on from mother to child.
If you are breast-feeding and not using treatment for HIV (ART)
Your baby will receive Nevirapine syrup once a day until you stop breast-feeding. The baby can have the Nevirapine syrup and other medicines given to you by a doctor or a nurse. Make sure that you:-
> Eat a well-balanced diet including fruit, vegetables, dairy, meat or nuts and grains.
> Drink plenty of water.
> Avoid spicy, sweet and acidic foods (fruit juices).
> Avoid alcohol, smoking and caffeine.
> Do not take medication without talking to your doctor.
> Get plenty of rest.
> Practise good breast hygiene.
> Get breast infections or cracked nipples seen to immediately.
> Do not feed from an infected breast or cracked nipples.
> Make sure the baby latches on to the breast properly – most of the nipple must be in his or her mouth.
> The first step to a proper latch on is getting your baby to open WIDE! Brush your baby’s lips with your nipple to encourage him or her to open wide, as if yawning.
> The baby is correctly latched when the mouth is open wide and most of the nipple is in the baby’s mouth.
If you want to stop breast-feeding, the baby should have a PCR test 6 weeks before you stop breast-feeding.
If the PCR test is negative, you can stop breast-feeding and continue with the Nevirapine syrup for the baby for 1 week after you stop breast-feeding.
The baby will have another PCR test 6 weeks after you stop breast-feeding.
If the PCR test is positive (HIV-positive), you must stop the Nevirapine syrup for the baby and continue breast-feeding. The baby must go to the clinic as soon as possible to be started on treatment for HIV.
Formula feeding tips
Exclusive feeding is always best - if you are formula feeding you must not breast-feed.
If you choose to formula feed, it is very important that you use clean water.
You must keep the mixing spoon, cup, teat and bottle very clean, and you need to wash all these things in boiling water to kill all the germs.
Germs in unclean water or feeding equipment can make your baby very sick with diarrhea and vomiting.
