Eriife

Eriife breastfed her older child and is also breastfeeding her new baby. The support from her husband and her clinic was important in making her decision.

Although Eriife was born with HIV, she was diagnosed in her early 20s. She had a period of illness in the early 2010s which led to her GP referring her to the hospital for blood tests. Although she had never had sex, after numerous tests, medical staff suggested she was tested for sexually transmitted infections, including HIV. When she was given her HIV diagnosis Eriife felt shock and ange. She later found out that her father died of AIDS related complications, and that she had been tested for HIV when she was a baby, but her test had been negative.

Eriife felt there was a missed opportunity to learn her HIV diagnosis earlier. A few years before her diagnosis she had wanted to donate blood, but her mother had told her not to do it. Eriife believes that had she tried to donate blood at that time, she would have had a health screening and learned her HIV diagnosis sooner. After the initial shock of finding out, her medical team have helped her come to terms with her diagnosis.

Eriife’s husband (who does not have HIV) knows about her and her mother’s HIV status. She asked him not to share it with his family, explaining that if he did, it would have implications for her mother as well.

Eriife had always wanted to breastfeed, as breastfeeding [is] all I;ve ever seen from aunties, cousins, family, that’s all I;ve ever see. She breastfed her older child as well and wanted her children to have the health benefits from breastmilk. She finds the regular blood tests and her baby’s reaction to them difficult and remembered that her husband used to take their older child for the blood tests.

As well as the health and bonding benefits, breastfeeding meant there was little risk of wider family and friends finding out about her HIV diagnosis. Eriife mainly sought breastfeeding support through her community and leaflets she was given. She did not speak with other mothers living with HIV.

Eriife is pleased with the new UK HIV and infant feeding guidelines. She remembered that the message when she breastfed her first child was you do it at your own ris, but the language in the new guidelines has changed to be more balanced and informative.

Eriife found that unlike her first baby, her second baby found the blood tests troubling.

Age at interview 33

Eriife was born with HIV and shared that her mum was worried about her going to a support group.

Age at interview 33

Eriife grew up seeing mothers around her breastfeeding and considered it “something natural to do”.

Age at interview 33

Eriife struggled with new mother issues like getting enough to eat and sleep.

Age at interview 33

Eriife shared her HIV status with her boyfriend at the time, who later became her husband.

Age at interview 33

Eriife received consistent and clear guidance from her clinical team and it made her feel reassured.

Age at interview 33