It is important to protect yourself and your baby from HIV.Hiv virus can be transmitted from you to your baby during pregnancy, delivery and breastfeeding.
Use ART during pregnancy, labour, delivery and during breastfeeding as per health workers prescription to protect your baby from HIV.
Protect your baby from being infected during pregnancy by using ARV medication.It is important to visit the health facility immediately you discover you are pregnant,your baby needs to be protected from early stages of pregnancy.
It is important to deliver at the health facility so that you can receive adequate care and treatment for you and your baby.You will be given ARV medication during delivery and be supported on how to initiate breastfeeding immediately.
It is important for a HIV mother to breastfeed exclusively (giving your baby ONLY breast milk) for the first 6 months together with the use of ARV drugs as prescribed.
Mixed feeding (Giving other liquids or food )puts your baby at a greater risk of becoming infected with HIV while breastfeeding.A baby Less than 6 months has immature digestive system.Food or drinks other than breast milk can cause damage to the baby’s stomach and this makes it easier for HIV and other diseases to pass into the body.This also increases the chances of the baby dying from other illnesses such as diarrhoea,pneumonia because it is not fully protected from breast milk.
For babies who cannot access breast milk ,the health worker will give instructions on feeding .
