HIV positive moms

I received a question the other day on this website about what feeding 
options moms have when they are HIV positive.  It’s an amazing 
question for a few reasons.  The answer really depends upon where in 
the world the mother lives.

Because breastmilk is a bodily fluid, it can transmit the virus. 
There’s evidence that the longer a mom with HIV breastfeeds, the more 
likely her baby is to get the virus. Transmission can occur from labor 
and delivery and it also occur from breastfeeding.

When women are living in developed countries with safe water and 
infant formulas that are readily available and safe, then using 
formula is the best option.

On the other hand, the situation gets more murky when the mother lives 
in a country where the water isn’t safe and there isn’t readily 
available infant formula.  In those situations, the baby has a higher 
risk of developing life- threatening diarrhea.  We know that in 
developing countries, where the water isn’t safe to drink, that 
diarrhea and dehydration account for too many babies becoming sick 
and dying. In general, in those countries, breastfeeding is best, but 
when you add the added risk of  HIV transmission, mothers are forced 
to make a terrible choice:  Risk transmitting HIV or worry about 
whether they can obtain clean water and safe formula.

It’s a choice no mother should have to make. There are many clean 
water projects in developing countries that are making a difference, 
one well at a time.  I personally donate to Heifer.org to help make 
clean water a reality for more women and children.