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2008 SERIES

EPISODE 7 - Breast, bottle or cup feeding?

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Information is as important to your child as food

Parenthood can be daunting. And with so many differing opinions out there, trying to make the right decisions for your children is sometimes confusing. This is especially true for HIV positive mothers who are trying to protect their children from contracting the disease.

This week on Siyayinqoba Beat It! one of the most complicated HIV-related topics is discussed: feeding and HIV. There is not one correct or incorrect way for HIV positive mothers to feed their babies; we examine the various options open to women and underline the importance of mothers getting the appropriate information before making a decision one way or another.

Both breastfeeding and formula feeding have advantages and disadvantages, and we explore the pro's and con's of both options through real life stories.

First we meet Zukiswa Currie from Mdantsane in the Eastern Cape, and we see how breastfeeding exclusively is working for this mom. HIV positive since 2002, Zukiswa decided to breastfeed because her parents-in-law were unaware that she was HIV positive and are opposed to bottle feeding.

Read about Zukiswa's decision here.

We then meet Nomfundo Wece, a mother from Site B Khayelitsha who chose to bottle feed her baby. We follow her through the routine of keeping the bottles sterilised and preparing the bottle for her child.

Download a transcript of what Nomfundo said.

Finally, cup feeding is discussed in the last insert as an alternative to both bottle and breastfeeding.

Read about the pros and cons of cup feeding.

This episode shows the implications of the various feeding options. It educated the viewers on the most effective way to prevent mother to child transmission and dispels some of the myths which still exist around HIV positive mothers and their babies.

IT'S A FACT

Nomfuzo Wece and baby

CJ Luvuyo holding Nomfuzo's baby

Zimasa and her kids

 

 65 000 children under 12 months old test positive for HIV each year. Just under half of these children get HIV through their mother's milk. For this reason, medical advice for a long time was to use replacement (formula) feeding for children of HIV positive mothers.
There is often cultural pressure on women to breastfeed
Formula feeding has many challenges. Unclean bottles and the dirty water used in preparing the formula can lead to diarrhoea.
Research found that the worst option for children was to mix formula feeding and breastfeeding. Research has also found that if a mother exclusively breastfeeds, using no other food at all, including water and any solids, the rate of transmission of HIV lowers.
Mixed feeding is dangerous because formula feed can irritate the sensitive lining of a baby's stomach, causing openings through which HIV can enter the bloodstream.
With exclusive breastfeeding, breast milk doest not irritate the lining of the baby's stomach in this way.  Breast milk supports the development of the baby's immune system.
It is not easy to achieve exclusive breastfeeding.  Mothers have to get social grants, they have to work and also have other social responsibilities, so children are often looked after by other minders, where the child will often receive water, juice and other solids. This introduces mixed feeding which puts the child at a high risk of HIV transmission.
The advantages and disadvantages of each option have to be properly explained to the mother who has to choose which option is best for her child. Neither option is without its own risks and problems.
Overall, if clean water and free formula are available, it is safer for HIV positive women to use replacement feeding.