As someone who got two units of blood post-partum in 1985, *before* the
blood supply was being tested for HIV . . . . . realistically, the risk of
the mother getting HIV through a blood transfusion in the US and then
passing it on to her newborn through breastfeeding are much lower than the
risk of the baby having health problems due to lack of breast milk. We must
all remember that formula is not a risk-free alternative.
Kathy Dettwyler