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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 is single and has four children aged 26, 15 and 13 years old, and an 18-month-old baby.
Emily was diagnosed with HIV in August 2020 after starting antenatal care. She chose not to breastfeed for the safety of her baby, though culturally this was a difficult decision because in her home country breastfeeding is seen as the healthiest start for a baby, and you can be treated with suspicion if you do not breastfeed.
Emily migrated to the UK to study for a Masters degree, and has three children. The older two, aged 15 and 9 years, are in a West African country, and...
Lana was diagnosed in 2019, when she was pregnant with her first child. She formula fed her older child and is currently undecided about how to feed her new baby.
Lana is married with a two-year-old child and is currently pregnant. She is a registered nurse and health researcher.
LeaSuwanna was diagnosed with HIV while pregnant with her second child and was advised not to breastfeed at the time. The guidelines have changed since then and she is planning to breastfeed her unborn baby.
LeaSuwanna is of Black Caribbean descent and is a trainee nurse and HIV activist. She has two children, 24 and 17 years old, and is currently pregnant.
Veronica was diagnosed in 2002. She formula fed her baby to avoid any risk of HIV transmission. Through most of her recent pregnancy she was undetectable but occasionally had a detectable viral load, so she was advised to formula feed. She receives free formula milk from her HIV charity, which has been helpful to ease financial concerns.
Veronica is Black African and lives in Scotland. She is married and has four children, aged 15 (stepchild), 8 and 1 year old, and a 3-month-old baby.
Gracelove chose to breastfeed her new baby for its nutritional and bonding benefits. She was comfortable breastfeeding, as she had breastfed her older child (born before her HIV diagnosis).
Gracelove is of Black African descent. She is separated and has two children, a 6-year-old child and a 6-month-old baby.
Puleng was diagnosed with HIV while pregnant with her first child. As she was diagnosed late in her pregnancy, breastfeeding was not an option at the time. When she was trying for her second baby, her healthcare team told her that breastfeeding could be an option this time. Puleng chose to breastfeed her youngest child and enjoyed the experience.
Puleng is of Black African origin and lives with her husband and their two children, a four-year-old child and an 11-month-old baby.
Camille had wanted to breastfeed her baby but was not able to do so due to miscommunication and lack of support in the maternity ward.
Camille is of Black African heritage and works as a nurse. She is in a relationship, and has a 16-year-old child and a nine month old baby.
Kay wants to breastfeed her baby for the health benefits for the baby and for herself.
Kay describes her ethnicity as White Other and is currently single. She is studying for a masters degree and is pregnant for the first time.
Pauline and her husband were diagnosed with HIV in 2019, before she was pregnant, when they had attended routine sexual health screening. Pauline lives with her parents, who do not know her or her husband's HIV diagnoses. Her husband lives abroad. Pauline and her husband decided to formula feed their child.
Pauline is married and lives with her parents. She and her husband are of Black African heritage and they have an eight-month-old baby.
