Sherry
Sherry chose to formula feed her new baby to remove all risk of HIV transmission. Even though her older children were born before her HIV diagnosis, she only breastfed them for a short period of time, because she did not like breastfeeding. Sherry has had no concerns about formula feeding her youngest baby.
Sherry was diagnosed with HIV in 2013 during her first pregnancy, which ended in miscarriage. That time of her life was “horrible” and had a big impact on her mental health, which sometimes still affects her. Her husband at the time left her after her diagnosis and loss of their baby. He was HIV-negative and Sherry is confused and unclear about when she acquired HIV.
Sherry’s medical team informed her of the latest breastfeeding guidelines, but she did not mind formula feeding, as she does not like breastfeeding and only breastfed her older children (pre-diagnosis) for a short period of time. Her clinic provided her with vouchers, which she spent on formula milk, food and baby clothes. She felt supported by her medical team so felt no reason to look for infant feeding advice anywhere else.
Sherry is concerned about people finding out about her HIV status and how she and her children would be treated. She was also concerned about receiving care from Black medical staff who may be from her community in West Africa, as she was worried that others may learn about her HIV status.
No one knew that Sherry only bottle fed. She spent 3 weeks in hospital after giving birth and the Covid-19 pandemic meant fewer people were around in the early months. Sherry told people that she breastfed initially and stopped, which is not a surprise to the people in her life as they knew she has never liked breastfeeding.
Sherry is currently single and none of her children know of her HIV diagnosis. She feels like her HIV status prevents her from dating the men she would like to date. Only Sherry’s ex-husband knows her HIV status and he has threatened to tell her children about it. Sherry feels she does not have the courage to tell her children at the moment, but also worries that her children will feel that she lied to them and question if she is a good mother.