Kathy - the protein/casein in a cow's milk formula is not the same as the
protein in human milk.  The baby would not show the same sensitivity to
human milk.  Is the Neocate made from cow's milk too?  If they are worried
about exposing the baby to possible HIV transmission from the mom's milk,
could mom not bring her EBM to the boil, and feed the cooled EBM to the
baby?  The HIV virus is heat-labile so bringing the milk to the boil would
destroy it.  This is one of the feeding options in the new UNAIDS HIV and
infant feeding guidelines.
The fact that the mom was "exposed" to the virus does not necessarily mean
that she has been infected - is anyone doing any more tests?  If the baby is
so sick that he has been hospitalized due to dehydration and inadequate
weight gain then I would think that giving boiled EBM until the mom is given
the all-clear (by PCR testing) to resume breastfeeding would be the ideal
way to manage his nutrition and reverse this downward spiral.  If the mom
was to test HIV+ 6 - 8 weeks after exposure then she could still provide
heat-treated EBM for her baby and know that she was providing him with the
very best method of "replacement-feeding".

Pamela Morrsion IBCLC, Zimbabwe
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