The short answer
The recommendation is to exclusively breastfeed for the first six months.
The whole question
Dear GroundUp
How long should an HIV-positive mother breastfeed her baby? I recently found out that I am HIV-positive and three months pregnant. I have started ARVs.
The long answer
The recommendation is to exclusively breastfeed for the first 6 months. If you breastfeed and formula feed together there is an increased risk of HIV transmission. If breastfeeding is not suitable for you, formula feeding alone is suitable – the important thing is that your baby is fed. As you have started ARVs and are still early in your pregnancy there is little risk to the baby. The baby will also have their own medication for the first few weeks of life to further reduce risk. More information about this can be found here.
Note: This answer was adapted from a question on i-Base. Here is a link to the original answer: https://i-base.info/qa/20210
Wishing you the best,
GroundUp
Answered on May 4, 2023, 2:22 p.m.
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