Below you will find the information that we have discussed. We will continue to review these items and answer any questions you may have.  Please stay in close contact with your care team.  We look forward to working closely with you to create a plan that will help you be successful in feeding your baby.

How Do You Lower the Risk of the Virus Being Passed on to Your Baby?

Medicines:

• Take your medicines as instructed by your healthcare provider.
• Do not skip doses.
• If you forget to take your medicine and it has been:
  • Less than 12 hours, take it right away when you remember.
  • More than 12 hours, wait to take your medicine until the next dose is due.

Viral load

• Keep your viral load undetectable.
• Have your viral load checked every 1 to 2 months or as directed.

Breastfeeding

• Do not breastfeed your baby if you have symptoms of mastitis. This is a breast infection.
  • Symptoms may include:
    • Fever or chills
    • Flu-like symptoms
    • Body aches
    • Breast pain or tenderness
    • Redness or warmth
• If you have these symptoms, call your nurse case manager, lactation consultant or OB provider.
• If you have mastitis, engorgement, or bleeding nipples:
  • Pump milk from the affected breast.
  • Do not breastfeed from that side until it improves.
  • If only one breast has symptoms, it is safe to give milk from the other unaffected breast.
• If you have these symptoms, you may:
  • Throw away the pumped milk (pump and dump).
  • Pump and flash heat the milk from the affected breast before feeding it to your baby.
  • Give your baby donor breast milk.
  • Give your baby formula.

How to Feed Your Baby if Your Viral Load is Undetectable?

• If your viral load is undetectable and you have no symptoms of mastitis, engorgement or bleeding nipples, you can breastfeed your baby.
• If your viral load is undetectable, but you have symptoms of mastitis, engorgement or bleeding nipples, do not breast feed or give pumped milk unless you flash heat it.

How to Feed Your Baby if Your Viral Load is Detectable?

• If your viral load is detectable, do not breast feed.
• To feed your baby, you can do one of the following:
  • Give infant formula.
  • Give stored or donor breast milk.
  • Pump and flash heat the breast milk.
• To keep your supply up and stay comfortable, you can pump breast milk. You can either throw it away (pump and dump) or flash heat it.
• Do not breast feed your baby until you have a repeat viral load test and your care team has talked with you about the results.

How Do You Lower the Risk for Your Baby?

Give your baby their medicines as prescribed by their healthcare provider.

• Your baby will need medicine while they are being breastfed or given breast milk.
• After your baby stops breastfeeding completely, they will need medicine for another 4 to 6 weeks after.
• If your viral load is ever detectable, extra medicines may be needed for your baby.