Is it safe for people living with HIV to breastfeed their babies?

Formula feeding is the only way to eliminate the risk of breastmilk transmission of HIV. However, if a person with HIV expresses interest in breast/chestfeeding, shared decision making and non-judgmental counseling should be provided as outlined in the DHHS Perinatal HIV Guidelines Infant Feeding for Individuals with HIV in the United States. Clinicians should consult experts in pediatric HIV if a person with HIV chooses to breast/chestfeed.