The well child Initiative

  After 9 months of pregnancy, new mothers often look forward to bonding with their baby. Myra, a first-time mother, smiled at her baby as she looked over at him in his crib. The smile only lasted a few seconds before it was replaced with a sniff.  She looked over in the ward and found another mother breastfeeding her daughter. She wasn’t sure she could ever have that experience with her son due to a health condition diagnosed during pregnancy. Unfortunately, Myra’s concerns are shared by many mothers facing similar challenges.  This article explores five common health conditions that can impact breastfeeding, addressing questions like: Can I breastfeed with HIV? How do medications affect breastfeeding? Will breastfeeding my baby pose any risk? What are these health conditions that can affect breastfeeding? 1. HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) Some years ago, HIV was perceived as an automatic barrier to breastfeeding. Infected mothers then couldn't create the mother-chil...