After the birth

Breastfeeding your baby is not recommended. Breast milk contains HIV, which means you could pass on HIV if you breastfeed. Always bottle-feed your baby with infant formula milk.

Your clinic will give you more advice on feeding your baby safely and comfortably. If you have money worries, help may be available for the cost of formula feed and equipment.

Feeding time can still be an occasion for bonding and holding the baby close.

You may have mixed feelings about bottle-feeding, especially if most other mothers you know do breastfeed. Remember, by bottle-feeding you are taking the best care of your baby, and are giving him or her the best chance of growing up without HIV.

Family and friends may ask why you aren’t breastfeeding, and dealing with their questions can be difficult. If you don’t want to talk about HIV, you could say that you are not producing enough milk, that you have mastitis (inflammation of the breast), or that you have cracked nipples.

Your baby will also need to take a special liquid form of anti-HIV drugs for four weeks after birth. This doesn’t mean that the baby has HIV.

To check that your baby is not infected, HIV tests will be done just after birth, at six weeks, and at twelve weeks, with a final HIV antibody test at 18 months. If these tests are negative and you have never breastfed, you will know for sure that the baby does not have HIV.

You need to avoid breastfeeding, but apart from that, HIV transmission is not an issue in day-to-day life with your baby. You can kiss and cuddle without worry.

Around 10% of all women feel sad or down during their baby’s first year. The overwhelming life changes brought about by a new baby are always challenging, but they can be particularly complex for women with HIV.

Your baby’s arrival could be accompanied by anxiety about the future, self-doubt and exhaustion. You might have nagging worries that your child has HIV, even when the test results tell you otherwise.

Perhaps you can ask friends and family for help with some things, but can’t talk about HIV with them. Your midwife, other clinic staff, support organisations and other HIV-positive mothers will be able to support you through this time.