Breastfeeding

[emandbump2019]

Hello my fellow mummies,

Me and my partner both have HIV and I have been told that I can take a certain medication that means there is a very low risk in transmitting the disease to my baby. The medication would carry on through breastfeeding to prevent it transmitting through the feeding. As I am aware 'breast is best' and I would like to hear your opinions on my situation.

Look forward to hearing back!

Hello, I’ve no expertise in this but can understand you’d have concerns about the risk to your baby. What do the medics looking after you say ‘very low risk’ means exactly? If it were me, I’d want to know statistics etc of how many babies have contracted HIV when mum is on this medication. And then you need to make a choice based on the possible risk. Also I’d want to know about possible side effects of the meds for you and baby. Breast milk is certainly the best food for your child, but formula is there for situations where breastfeeding is not possible and if the risk of your baby contracting HIV is not extermely extremely low, I’m inclined to feel that formula on balance may be the best idea.

Milk banks are an option possibly to get some colostrum and breast milk for baby in the early days if you decide not to go ahead?

Hi @emandbump2019 I can help with answers but there are a few things to address here, so:

1. Are you pregnant at the moment (if, so congratulations!)
2. Are both you and you partner on medication? Being on meds is the best thing for you and your baby
3. Where do you live? different countries have different guidelines on breastfeeding etc. In the UK for example breastfeeding is not recommended as 1st choice. the thing to know is that mixing breast and bottle is the worst thing for you baby in potentially contracting the virus so it must be one or the other.

In the UK the vast majority of babies born to HIV positive couples are HIV negative, due to both them being on medication and their baby also for the first few months. These meds are very safe and well tolerated.

Both mother and baby get extra checks and scans throughout pregnancy. The best people to advise really would be your clinic consultant or hospital midwife.

Happy to try to help with further details if you want, or you can message me privately.

Just to add - yes I have DC, but I had them before I contracted HIV. I've just learnt a lot about this sort of stuff since!