Should HIV+ Mothers’ Breastfeed Their Babies? Breastfeeding is a practice of feeding a baby with milk from its mother’s breast. Research shows that breastfeeding contributes highly to the good health and survival of babies. This includes acquiring important nutrients necessary for growth. It gives the baby necessary antibodies that strengthen the immune system preventing common illness. The first breast milk, colostrums, is very essential for young children because it is nutritious and helps in protecting the baby from common disease infections. Additionally, breastfeeding facilitates quick recovery to the mother. It may not be healthy for HIV positive mothers. This is because breast milk transmits HIV virus to the baby. There is high controversy …show more content…
According to research by pathfinder international, about 1.2 to 1.8 million babies and children are HIV positive after infection through breastfeeding. Most of the infected mothers are unaware of the precautions to take in order to avoid this transmission. The HIV positive mothers are always afraid of avoiding breastfeeding because it is the norm of many societies. Besides, they consider the nutritional important and emotional development of the baby. Contrary, the risk of breastfeeding for HIV positive mothers is more than the expected benefits. At first, if the baby becomes infected, the immune system automatically weakens. If the breastfeeding persists for a longer duration, the risk of infection increases and the effects also manifests more rapidly. World health organization (WHO) has supported this idea claiming that there is evidence of gradual and persistent rise in transmission risk as long as breastfeeding continues. Mothers may suffer from nutritional deficiency through breastfeeding. For example, anemia may make one less receptive to anti-viral therapy. Lack of vitamin A may also increase the risk of transmitting the HIV/AIDS. The deficiency of these nutrients may weaken the baby, giving room for easy transmission of the virus. If the breastfeeding prolongs when the mother lacks these nutrients, the child becomes weak and lacks protective measure to fight against infections. This supports why HIV …show more content…
It is possible for HIV positive mothers to breastfeed, and fail to transmit the infections. An interview and questionnaire research from Bull-Word Health Organization shows that HIV positive mothers may breastfeed for the first six months without risks of transmitting the virus. The first milk after delivery, colostrums, contains many nutrients. The content of this milk cannot be substituted with any other food or milk. This research shows that many children who are infected by HIV virus die from undernourishment and not AIDS. Breastfeeding not only provides nutrients for the child’s growth, but supplies necessary antibodies, which fight against other infections and deadly diseases (Ilif et al,
Papathakis, P.C., & Rollins, N.C. (2003). Are WHO/UNAIDS/UNICEF-recommended replacement milks for infants of HIV-infected mothers appropriate in the South African context? Bulletin of the World Health Organization, 82(3), 164-171.
“Commercially prepared infant formulas are a nourishing alternative to breast milk, and even contains vitamins and nutrients that breastfed infants need to get from supplements (Pearl, E., 2015). Breastfeeding is proven to strengthen the immune system for children of all ages. While a mother nurses the infant, the mother passes down nutrients and antibodies from the milk the babies drink while nursing. Like immunizations building invulnerabilities for people destructive illnesses, breast milk gives additional antibodies to infants to help them. Nursing sessions are less demanding to retain and process the formula since it contains living development elements, hormones, and chemicals which help an infant to effectively process all healthy intake from each feeding (The Office on Women’s Health, 2012). Further, in creating nations, scientists found that for newborn children who were not breastfed have danger of dying from irresistible infections, in the primary month is six times more prominent than babies who were breastfed (Chen and Rogan, 2004). Children that are breastfed have less problems with digestive systems due to the breast milk, a standout amongst the most essential advantages of breast milk is the containing living parts, for example, contamination battling antibodies, white platelets, red platelets, and hostile to viral components (Taylor, 2013). All which are essential to the growth of a newborn's digestive system that formula does not
Breastfeeding is when a woman feeds her child from her breast. Breastfeeding has been around since before the 15th century. In addition to strengthening the bond between a mother and her baby, breastfeeding offers a number of benefits for both a mother and her child. Babies who are breastfed have lower risk of meningitis, various cancers, diabetes, respiratory illnesses, bacterial and viral infections, childhood leukemia, allergies and obesity. Mothers have a reduced risk of breast and ovarian cancer, as well as osteoporosis. All mothers no matter where they are weather it be the mall, park, restaurant, or just out running errands need to have their right to breastfeed protected.
Concept analysis is the breakdown of a problem into pieces to figure out ways to form a conclusion on how to correct, or improve, the problem. This response reviews a concept analysis that looked at problems with successful breastfeeding. In the Journal of Obstetric, Gynecologic, & Neonatal Nursing (JOGNN), Mulder (2006) identifies the four key elements of effective breastfeeding: “positioning, latch, sucking, and milk transfer” (p. 334) using the concept analysis by Walker and Avant. The method of analysis, steps of process, and results are applied to successful breastfeeding.
Breastfeeding rates are continually increasing. The nutritional benefit of breast over formula is a long established fact. “According to the latest numbers from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, breastfeeding rates improved nationwide in 2000-2008, and some of the greatest improvement was among black women. However, only about 59 percent of black mothers breastfed in 2008, compared to 80 percent of Hispanic mothers and about 75 percent of white mothers. For 2008 rates of breastfeeding at a baby’s first birthday, the number was about 23 percent overall but only 12.5 percent for black mothers. That low rate still marks a near doubling of rates among black mothers compared to the year 2000” (Currie, 2013).It is the recommended method of feeding an infant for at least the first six months of life. Breastfeeding has benefits to both mothers and their babies. The baby receives immunity to protect it from disease. Financially, breastfeeding can significantly reduce the burden of having a new child. Many mothers initiate breastfeeding in the hospital; however, the number of women who breastfeed until six months is very low (Guyer, Millward, & Berger, 2012). Breastfeeding is highly favored over bottle feeding. Yet, mothers still do not choose to continually breastfeed their infants. Do mothers who breastfeed during hospitalization have limitations or no desire to continue versus mothers who breastfeed for the recommended six months or longer at home?
Congratulations! Now that you have passed the stage of pregnancy, you now face the big question on whether to breast feed or bottle feed your child. According to The World Health Organization it’s highly recommended that mothers breastfeed their child until the age of two. (Berk 100) Don’t get me wrong, there’s nothing wrong in bottle feeding your child with formula milk. There are cases in which mothers aren’t always able to breast feed their children right after birth, for example, they might have medical issues that may prevent them from breast feeding. Or in some cases early childbirth.
Is there any food on earth that can provide the PERFECT nutrition to a human? Yes, and it is breast milk. Breast milk is the perfect nutrition. This superior food contains hormones, live antibacterial and antiviral cells and essential fatty acids (What Makes Human Milk Special?, Mar-Apr 2006). All of which are helpful in protecting against any harm. Sicknesses in infants are lowered by the help that breast milk gives. Breastfed children are sick less often than children who aren’t breastfed (What Makes Human Milk Special?, Mar-Apr 2006). Breast milk contains all the nutrients that an infant needs as it continues to grow. When the child is brought into the world it has no way to fight off any d...
Though breastfeeding is undoubtedly the optimum feeding method, it is not necessarily a possibility for some mothers (The Nemours Foundation). For example, couples who choose to adopt children are obviously not able to breastfeed their child because the mother is not lactating. Other mothers just simply do not have the time to breastfeed their children because they are busy running errands (Mezzacappa, Elizabeth Sibolboro, and Edward S. Katkin.). Another reason some mothers do not breastfeed is that they are using a babysitter so they need the babysitter to have some way to feed the child (Mezzacappa, Elizabeth Sibolboro, and Edward S. Katkin.). The reasons behind bottle feeding are definitely sound, but they only prove that bottle feeding is an alternative method, not a replacement for breastfeeding. Th...
Breast milk is made for the baby having just the right amount of protein, sugar, water, and fat that is needed for a baby’s growth and development. As breast milk is easier for newborn’s to digest than formal, it prevents intestinal upsets. Furthermore, breast milk includes substances such as immunoglobulin’s...
When a woman becomes pregnant, her unborn child will take from her body the required nutrients and blood that the child needs to develop properly. If the woman is infected with HIV, there are possibilities that the child could receive the virus as well. This mother-to-child transmission could happen in one of three ways: during pregnancy, during childbirth, or through breastfeeding. When a woman is pregnancy, the child is connected to his mother via her placenta. If virus were to find its way into the child’s placenta, it could then enter and infect the child. Another way, and also the most common route of transmission from mother to child, is during childbirth. When the amniotic sac breaks, the child is in now exposed and in more direct contact to the mother’s blood and bodily fluids which can then infect the child. For this reason, most healthcare providers suggest that a woman receive a cesarean section to avoid such predicaments and lessen the chances of transmission. The third way that a woman can pass her HIV to her child can be through her breast milk. The child could have been born without HIV but if his mother feeds him her infected milk, then the child could contract the virus. This i...
Figure two showed how antenatal care coverage got better in every region. This graph showed how, “57 per cent of deliveries were done by skilled health personnel, compared to 69 per cent in 2012. South Asia and sub-Saharan Africa have the lowest rates of deliveries attended by health professionals. The rates were 49% and 50 % in 2012.” Figure three showed, “Percentage of infants aged 0-5 months, who were breastfed from 2000-2012. This figure suggests there is a strong correlation between breastfeeding and good health. Breastfeeding is one of the strongest defenses against disease. Consequently, only a few are ever breastfed. The progress of breastfeeding in West and Central Africa is low.” Figure four showed how mortality rates declined in all regions. Figure five showed how, “Measles immunization coverage improved in 1990, but is still lagging in some regions. Deaths from measles were reduced by 80 percent between the years of 2000-2013. The Measles vaccine coverage improved from 73% in 1990 to 84% in
"Breast is best." A slogan widely known across the nation encouraging mothers to give their infants what the American Academy of Pediatrics acknowledges as a multifaceted health booster for mothers and infants alike. American Academy of Pediatrics recommends mothers exclusively breastfeed for the first six months of their infant 's life, yet many mothers are falling short of this recommendation. Survey research indicated 75.5% of children were ever breastfed. Of that 75.5% of children ever breastfed, only 12.4% were reported to be exclusively breastfeeding at six months.
During one of my shifts on postpartum I was helping a nurse look after a mom with her first baby. She really wanted to be able to breastfeed but she was having a lot of troubles getting her baby to latch on. It was a Saturday and there was no lactation consultant working who could come in to help her. Her baby was also small for gestational age, so she did have risk for hypoglycemia, making it really important for her baby to be feeding to ensure her blood sugars would not drop. After each attempt at breastfeeding and being unsuccessful, the mom would look very upset. The nurse tried to help her by showing her different breastfeeding positions and techniques and teaching her to express her milk and put it in the baby’s mouth. The
Malaria can increase the HIV viral load and increases the risk that the mother will
Unintended pregnancies among HIV positive women in low-income settings is a significant public health issue with implications for the health and well-being of women of childbearing age, their partners, and their children. According to the Global HIV/AIDS Response Progress Report (WHO, 2011), Swaziland is a priority country for eliminating mother-to-child transmission of HIV. Swaziland has the highest HIV prevalence in the world - nearly 26% of adults aged 15-49 in Swaziland are living with HIV. Among adults with HIV in Swaziland, 58% are women (UNAIDS, 2012). Further concerning is the high prevalence of HIV among young women who are reaching the peak of fertility. HIV prevalence among women aged 15-24 was 15.6% in 2009 (Unicef, 2011). Considering that 64% of pregnancies among women aged 15-49 were unintended and that 12% of HIV positive women reported an unmet need for family planning, unintended pregnancies among HIV positive women in Swaziland is a significant cause for concern (Unicef, 2011; WHO, 20l11).