What feeding option should a nurse suggest to a client with HIV regarding a newborn?

For a client with HIV, the safest recommendation for feeding a newborn is to bottle-feed. This is because HIV can be transmitted through breast milk, and breastfeeding poses a risk of passing the virus to the infant.

Bottle-feeding with formula eliminates this risk, making it the most appropriate option for mothers with HIV. Formula feeding provides the necessary nutrition without the potential danger of viral transmission that comes from breastfeeding.

While donor milk might seem like an option, it is not always guaranteed to be free of HIV unless it has been thoroughly screened and processed according to strict guidelines, which might not be available to all patients. The idea of delaying formula feeding also introduces unnecessary risk during a sensitive period in the infant's life, so immediate exclusive bottle-feeding is the best practice.