Hiv Positive Mothers And Breast Feeding

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Pregnancy and HIV

If you have HIV and you are pregnant, or if you want to become pregnant, talk with your health care provider about your options for taking care of yourself and reducing the risk of HIV infection or birth defects for your new child. The Bottom Line An HIV-infected woman who becomes pregnant needs to think about her own health and the health of her new child. Pregnancy may actually improve the health of the mother. The risk of transmitting HIV...

Ask the Experts

infant feeding choices for HIV positive mothers

What choices are available for an HIV positive mother when feeding her child?...

Response from Cade Fields-Gardner M.S., R.D.

The Cutting Edge

This depends very much on your resources. Guidelines suggest that if you are HIV-infected in a developed country you should consider avoiding breastfeeding. Those guidelines vary according to availability of viable breastfeeding substitutes. In... Read more »

HIV positive mothers' reasons for breastfeeding

Why do HIV positive mothers make the decision to breastfeed their babies if there is a risk for spreading the virus to the baby?...

Response from Brooks Jackson, M.D.

Johns Hopkins University, School of Medicine

Women in developing countries often breastfeed their babies because they cannot afford to buy formula, they have no clean water, and they are stigmatized by their community if they do not breastfeed their baby. BJ... Read more »

HIV by breast feeding

I am in India. My wife was diagnosed HIV in 2008 with CD4 114. Only possible cause is blood transfusion she had in 1989 just after birth of my son.recently my son is also diagnosed HIV with CD4 275. My daughter who was born in 1994 is negative.As...

Response from Joseph McGowan, M.D., F.A.C.P.

North Shore University Hospital

I am sorry to hear about how HIV has impacted your family.It is likely that your son was infected through breast feeding. About 14-17% of HIV transmissions from mother to child happen that way and, if your wife had just become infected at that time... Read more »

mother diagnosed with full blown aids breast feeding infant

My cousin died in September of 2000 she never knew she was infected, all along she was breast feeding her child one day she fell sick and was diagnosed with full blown aids in July and passed away in September of the same year my question is what...

Response from John L. Sullivan, M.D.

University of Massachusetts, Medical School

The child that was breast fed is at risk for HIV infection and should be tested for HIV; JLS.... Read more »

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Young Mother of divorced hiv positive dad

Posted by Anonymous, 7 Replies

Wow, I just read all the posts and I am sorry about all the problems that have arised. I did not mean to stir people so much. What I was looking for was a way to educate myself other than the internet and chat rooms so I could feel comfortable, for... Read more »

Divorced hiv positive dad

Posted by Anonymous, 9 Replies

Hello,

I am the ex wife of an hiv positive dad. He became positive after our divorce. I am having a hard time dealiing with his status. We have two very small children under 4 years old. I am afraid to leave them with him alone. He has been very... Read more »

I'm an HIV mother looking for friends

Posted by Anonymous, 4 Replies

Hi there,
I'm an HIV mother looking for friends to share thoughts, stories and encouragement with. Why don't you contact me.

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How do I tell my family I'm HIV Positive?

Posted by Anonymous

I am 42 year old single mother living on Miami Beach. I have been hiding my HIV status for 4 1/2 years now (my own daughter doesn't even know). I left New York because the word got out and I am very careful with my all of my partners but I am tired... Read more »

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