In a message dated 95-09-11 12:01:11 EDT, Cathy wrote:

> If he acquired the virus from this person, could he pass it on to her the
same day? ********>>>>Very Unlikely
> If she acquired the virus and is shedding a lot, would this put the baby at
higher risk?
*****YES THIS IS THE MOST RISKY SITUATION FOR BM TRANSMISSION.
How do you support and inform someone in this situation when the unknowns
>are so great? *************vERY CAREFULLY
> What is our role as lactation consultants? My heart really goes out to this
mom, she was devastated! I would appreciate your thoughts and ideas.
 TIA, Cathy

REALLY HIV is only the tip of the ICEBERG for this woman.  What does this
man's action say about his commintment to this woman?  Would this have been
OK if he had used a condom?????  It really does matter who the partner was,
 if the partner was male, or a prostitute the risk is much greater than an
isolated affair, but then that is a dice game with your life as can only
takes once with the wrong person.

There is some published data about the rates of transmisson heterosexually.
 There are some couples where one spouse is HIV positive and the other isn't
(blood transfusions, hemophilia) where the CDC has been able to track the
rate of conversion of these "natural experiments" where the couples were not
using "safe sex".  Generally the rates have been lower than what one would
imagine, but I'm sorry I can't give you the exact number. Also as I remember
the facts male to female transmission is "easier or or likely to occur" than
female to male.  Of course these are only generalities and not guarentees.
 You might try calling an Aids HOTLINE for more info

If this was my patient (which it is not) it would be my recommendation is to
continue to nurse until I got the test results back.  If positive she needs
to then see a HIV Doctor to see about AZT etc.  She also needs to see a
counsuler (with her partner if he is willing) so they can work on the reason
this happened.

.
Jon Ahrendsen, MD, FAAFP, LLLI Medical Associate
215 13th Ave, SW
Clarion, Iowa, 50525  USA
phone 515-532-2836
Fax 515-532-2523
Email [log in to unmask]