To feed or not to feed

According to Lawernce K. Altman of the New York Times in the article, "Scientists Urge New Look At Feeding in AIDS Fight", published on February 27, 2007, the problem of natural breast feeding vs. formula breast feeding has proven to be a great problem and mystery when it comes to feeding a new born. Studies have shown a plethora of results regarding infant feeding that will reduce the risk of HIV or AIDS. The argument is whether breast feeding by the natural mother who has the HIV virus or formula feeding in an at risk country will be better off for the infant being fed.

During the 14th Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections, scientists reported that formula feeding in poor countires can be very dangerous for a child's overall health and urged that natural breast feeding should be used or better formulaed feeding. The problem is that the formula does not give proper nutriotions and fluids to the infant but direct feeding from the an infected mother may cause the transfer of the HIV virus.

Earlier studies from the World Health Organization say that "breast-feeding has a lower risk of transmitting H.I.V. than breast-feeding combined with other fluids or foods." meaning that mixing the two types of feeding together proves to be more dangerous than just sticking with one. Studies have been proving back and forth which method is safer for the child and the ultimate method has not been chosen.

Another relative problem is when an infected mother should stop naturally feeding the child because tests have shown that the older and longer a child is fed this way the more likely they are to contract the HIV virus.

All in all it seems like a rather sticky situation, the tests are trying to help and find the most helpful method but it seems that they are just batting forth which way is better for the child. Either way i beleive the tests should continue to be done until a final conclusion on the topic can be made.