The American Academy of Pediatrics now supports breastfeeding by HIV-positive moms, if their infection is controlled The risk of HIV transmission through breastfeeding is less than 1% if the mom is virally suppressed That risk should be weighed against the many benefits of breastfeeding, the AAP says MONDAY, May 20, 2024 (HealthDay News) -- The nation’s top pediatrics group has reversed its decades-old position on HIV-positive mothers breastfeeding their infants. The American Academy of Pediatrics now says it’s generally safe for moms with to breastfeed or provide breast milk to babies if their infection is properly controlled. The risk of HIV transmission through breastfeeding from a mother who is virally suppressed is less than 1%, according to an AAP evidence review published May 20 in the AAP journal .
That small risk should be weighed against the health and financial benefits of breastfeeding, the AAP says. “Research now shows that the risk of HIV transmission through breastfeeding is quite low when the lactating parent is on anti-retroviral treatment and has no detectable viral load,” said , lead author of the AAP review. “While avoiding breastfeeding is the only option to guarantee that the virus is not transmitted, pediatricians should be ready to offer family-centered and nonjudgmental support for people who desire to breastfeed,” said Abuogi, who is medical director for the Children's Hospital Colorado Immunodeficiency HIV Prevention Program.
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