Mother-to-infant HIV transmission by  breast milk is more common in women who become infected late in their pregnancy or during lactation, according to a policy statement published by the Committee on Pediatric AIDS in Pediatrics, the American Academy of Pediatric’s official journal.

One study showed the risk of  HIV transmission from breast milk was only 14 percent from mothers with chronic HIV, whereas mothers who were diagnosed with HIV late in their pregnancy or during lactation had a much higher risk of 25 percent to 35 percent.

In order to prevent the transmission of HIV from mother to baby, the AAP recommends that HIV-infected mothers refrain from breastfeeding their babies.

Although no HIV-infected babies were born in Northeast Florida in 2012, it is important to be informed of the risk of postnatal infection in order to prevent transmission.

Read the complete report by AAP here.