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- $Unique_ID{BRK02039}
- $Pretitle{}
- $Title{Is it OK To Nurse a Baby if You Think You Could Have AIDS?}
- $Subject{AIDS acquired immunodeficiency syndrome HIV human immunodeficiency
- virus HIV infection AIDS test HIV test baby infant nutrition milk nursing
- lactation AIDS transmission breast feed feeding breast-feed breast-feeding
- nurse nursing}
- $Volume{}
- $Log{
- HIV--Human Immune Deficiency Virus*0001001.scf
- Who Gets AIDS*0001002.scf
- AIDS Weakens the Immune System*0001003.scf
- How to Avoid AIDS*0001006.scf}
-
- Copyright (c) 1993 Tribune Media Services, Inc.
-
-
- Is it OK To Nurse a Baby if You Think You Could Have AIDS?
-
-
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-
- QUESTION: I need help very badly, and do not know where to turn. Could you
- please tell me if it is OK to nurse a baby if you think you could have AIDS?
- I really need this answer, but please don't put my name in your column. It
- would only add to my misery.
-
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-
- ANSWER: I always respect the confidentiality of the questions I get, and
- therefore never indicate names or sources of the letters I receive. I am
- going to try to advise you, but you will have to take all the proper steps if
- we are going to get to the proper solution. New babies need the best
- nutrition they can get, and that is mother's milk. That means the mother must
- get all the proper care before the baby is born, an essential for the health
- of both the mother and baby. However, since there is a risk of giving the
- baby an HIV infection (which causes AIDS) through nursing, current advice is
- not to nurse under these circumstances. Your letter states you "think" you
- might have AIDS, which leads me to think that you have not been tested. So my
- advice to you is to be tested for HIV before you make the decision about
- nursing. If you are negative you will be able to nurse unless you are using
- drugs, in which case, HIV positive or not, you must refrain from nursing the
- baby.
-
- ----------------
-
- The material contained here is "FOR INFORMATION ONLY" and should not replace
- the counsel and advice of your personal physician. Promptly consulting your
- doctor is the best path to a quick and successful resolution of any medical
- problem.
-