Breastfeeding is one of the ways that HIV can be transmitted although this risk greatly decreases when the affected mom adheres to her medications.

If you have chosen to feed your baby artificially, then the risk of your baby getting HIV through feeding is avoided provided you NEVER breastfeed your baby once you begin.

To successfully feed your baby with artificial milk, you have to answer these pertinent questions first.

Is it affordable? A tin of NAN cost about N2000 and should last about 3 days or less if your baby is feeding well. That will mean that in a week, you will need at least 2-3 tins, and in a month 12 tins. This amounts to an average of about N25,000 monthly. Can you afford this? Please note that I didn't add other costs like clean water, feeding utensils, cleaning agents etc

Is it feasible? Believe me when I say that we are culturally more inclined towards breastfeeding our babies. If your mother-in-law is unaware of your HIV status, it will be very hard for her to understand why you are not breastfeeding your child when she comes visiting for "omugwo".

Is it sustainable? Yes, you can afford 1 or 2 month's supply of artificial milk now but can you sustain that for 4 to 6 months? Can you afford roughly N150,000 just for feeding alone?

Is it accessible? I want to believe this won't be a problem unless of course you reside in an area that is far from where you can get these tins of milk. I guess planning well will prevent this.

Is it safe? Always use clean boiled water. Borehole water is not clean. Aim to prepare fresh feeds and avoid storing them. Good hygienic habits, like washing hands thoroughly with soap just before feeding baby and after changing diapers. Using cup and spoon to feed and being mindful of who feeds your baby can go a long way in safe feeding.

Artificial milk is ideal for feeding a baby with an HIV positive mom but only when it is affordable, feasible, accessible, sustainable and safe.

www.kiddiesmatters.com