Breastfeeding your baby carries a risk of you passing on HIV to your baby, which might be as high as one in eight, depending on your own state of health, how long breastfeeding continues, and whether the baby receives any food or water in addition to breast milk. In the UK and other countries where safe alternatives to breastfeeding are available, you are strongly recommended to feed your baby with formula feed from birth. Detailed advice and support on how to do this is available from medical services and you should ask for help if you have difficulty meeting the cost.