Re: [pronut-hiv] Best diet (6)

["Married Guys" <marriedguys@yahoo.com>]

Hi Robert,
Sorry for responding my emails from the top because I should have captured yours first. I have just responded and gave out some basics about ourselves..

Yes, we are HIV positive and our baby is now negative. Thanks for asking.
Yes, replacement feeds are expensive but we can afford them. We used them on our baby because I am a working class mother and I only get to see my baby in the evenings.

The socio cultural view on breastfeeding is strong in our community but my husband really knows how to discourage the talk. So, that one is covered. Thanks a lot for asking.

Despite the acute water shortage that is gripping Nairobi, I can confirm the basic hygiene logistics, as you call it, is not a problem with us. Again, thanks for asking.

I am glad with what you propose for our nutritional requirements. We do not exaggerate anything. We are conscious of what we take. It means life and death to us.
My hubby takes that occasional beer on especially Fridays. I can however confirm he hardly takes more than 2 and this he does like on 2 Fridays in a month. I hope this won't harm him. What do you think? 

Best regards,
Married Guys

---  Robert Simiyu  wrote:


Hi married guys,
I presume that you are HIV positive and that was the reason you went for replacement feeding for your baby,though you have not said what the final status of your baby is. I would like to assume that it is negative and you are happy.

Having said that,my suggestion is that you could still benefit from any of the two options,exclusive breastfeeding or replacment feeding.Of course your choice shall be informed by factors like the cost of replacement feeds,whether the mother is with the baby all the time to facillitate adequate breastfeeding,the socialcultural view of not breastfeeding in your community and availability of basic hygiene logistics like water and soap.In a nutshell, I have observed that both approaches,done correctly give good results.

Regarding your own nutrition I would suggest that you look around your community and identify the available foods that should be affordable,classify the foods in the different classes of food that make up a balanced diet and mix appropriately. You dont need to exagerate this.

With best regards,

Robert Simiyu in Nairobi

--- On Mon, 6/29/09, Married Guys <marriedguys@yahoo.com> wrote:

> From: Married Guys <marriedguys@yahoo.com>
> Subject: [pronut-hiv] Best diet
> To: "Nutrition and HIV/AIDS" <pronut-hiv@healthnet.org>
> Date: Monday, June 29, 2009, 10:31 AM
> Hi everyone,
> Â
> We are a married Kenyan couple with one baby. We never
> breastfed her. She has been on formula milk since birth and
> we now want to ask you if our second baby should also go the
> same route or we may do what is called exclusive
> breastfeeding.
> Â
> As for our health, we would appreciate if someone advised
> us on the best diet in terms of nutrition. We want to hear
> it from the experts and we believe we are in the right
> forum.
> Â
> Thank you all in advance.
> Â
> regards,
> Â
> The Married Guys
>