Breastfeeding, Chestfeeding and HIV: Supporting Informed Choices

Submitted on Aug 21, 2024
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Table of Contents

The Issue

Breastfeeding while taking HIV drugs is the standard of care for women and other parents living with HIV in resource-limited areas of the world. It has been shown to increase survival and well-being of their babies, and the risk of HIV transmission with this method is extremely low. However, in high-resource settings like the United States and Canada, general HIV and public health guidelines have historically discouraged breastfeeding among women living with HIV.

A significant change occurred in early 2023 when the US Perinatal HIV Clinical Guidelines – which inform healthcare providers in their engagements specifically related to pregnancy, infant care, and HIV – were rigorously updated to reflect current knowledge about HIV transmission through breast milk; discuss benefits of breast/chestfeeding; and encourage informed, shared infant-feeding decision-making for women and other birthing parents living with HIV.

Read more about changes to the guidelines and The Well Project's involvement

Over the past several years, The Well Project has created and curated many articles, events, and other resources to provide access to a range of information, based on research findings and expert experience, than can support parents living with HIV in their infant-feeding decision making. Below is a list of our resources on this topic, which we will continue to add to as they are developed. We recognize and are responding to the need for programming to advance research, policy, and educational resources for women and other parents living with HIV and the providers, professionals, and others who care for them.

Browse this collection of materials curated for health professionals

 

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BEEEBAH logo: A silhouette of a pregnant person and a person holding a baby.

 

BEEEBAH (Building Equity, Ethics, and Education on Breastfeeding and HIV) is a comprehensive, multi-tiered three-year project expanding upon The Well Project’s efforts to increase knowledge and access to information around breast/chestfeeding and HIV.

LEARN MORE & CHECK PAGE OFTEN FOR BEEEBAH UPDATES! 

 

Breaking News

Articles and Fact Sheets

Conference Posters and Discussions

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Representation of United States and Canada in blue with article title over it and green border.

The Expert Consensus Statement on Breastfeeding and HIV in the United States and Canada affirms the agency of women and parents living with HIV – and the urgency of including them at all levels in HIV research, education, and policy.

READ MORE & SIGN ON TODAY! 

 

Reports and Resources

Interested in engaging in conversation or sharing insights or updates related to HIV and infant feeding (including breast/chestfeeding)? Email oford@thewellproject.org to be added to the growing HIV and Infant Feeding listserv!

Breast/Chestfeeding Infographics

Click the images below to save and share as jpeg images

Detail from BEEEBAH "Did You Know" pamphlet. Detail from BEEEBAH "Did You Know" pamphlet. Detail from BEEEBAH "Did You Know" pamphlet.

Personal Stories

Videos, Podcasts, and Presentations

 

 

 

Order Materials

"Get the Facts on Breast/Chestfeeding and HIV" Pamphlet: Get key facts about breast/chestfeeding and HIV at your fingertips! From snapshots of the latest research and current guidelines to a direct link for support in talking with providers about infant feeding, this pocket-sized folding pamphlet packs vital information into an attractive, readable format. The pamphlet is a helpful resource to share at conferences and community events, in clinic waiting rooms – anywhere women and other potential parents living with HIV are served.

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BEEEBAH pamphlet.

Click the image above to save as a jpeg or share online; or download a printable pdf of this resource

FILL OUT THIS FORM TO HAVE FREE COPIES OF THIS PAMPHLET SHIPPED TO YOUR ORGANIZATION OR PRACTICE!

En español

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BEEEBAH folleto.

Haga clic en la imagen de arriba para guardarla como jpeg o compartirla en línea; o descargue un pdf imprimible de este recurso

Llene este formulario para obtener copias gratuitas de este folleto enviadas a su organización o consultorio

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