TV presenter and HIV activist, Nozibele Qamngana-Mayaba, has opened up about how her positive HIV status affects how she wants to birth and raise her baby.
In her recent YouTube video, the media personality said she doesn’t like that women living with HIV don’t have options when it comes to birthing.
She opened up about a bad encounter with a doctor who rudely told her she could only give birth via C-section and only feed the baby formula.
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In the video, Nozi said they were discussing birthing options with the medical practitioner, and she told them she couldn't do natural birth because she would not be able to stand the pain and the medical practitioner told her that it's not like she had a choice, she was going to do a C-section whether she liked it or not.
She said she was also told that she must only feed the baby formula and not breastfeed.
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Daily Sun spoke to gynecologist Dr Maluleke about Nozi’s situation. He said the advice given to Nozi was not correct.
“C-Section is no longer compulsory. There was a time it was regarded as the option. It has been noted that these women take ARVs, and normal delivery can be done. The baby is not at risk to be infected. We no longer insist on C-Section especially if the viral load is suppressed,” he said.
He also said women living with HIV could also breastfeed.
“She does have an option to breastfeed, however, she mustn’t mix feed because that puts the baby’s life in danger,” Dr Maluleke said.
