Final answer:
Yes, lactation while HIV positive can transfer the infection to the baby. Rates of mother-to-child transmission can be reduced by giving antiretroviral medications to the mother and infant, and by using bottle feeding instead of breastfeeding.
Step-by-step explanation:
Yes, lactation while HIV positive can transfer the infection to the baby. HIV can be transmitted from an infected mother to her child during pregnancy, childbirth, or breastfeeding. If the mother is infected with HIV, there is about a 15% chance that the virus will be transmitted to her infant through her breast milk.
Rates of mother-to-child transmission can be reduced to about 1 percent by giving antiretroviral medications to the mother during pregnancy and to the infant after birth. Substituting bottle feeding for breastfeeding, if feasible, eliminates the risk of HIV transmission through breast milk.
Therefore, it is important for HIV positive mothers to receive proper medical care and guidance to reduce the risk of transmitting the infection to their babies.