Should I breastfeed my baby if I have or have had COVID-19?
At the present time there is sufficient evidence that transmission from mothers infected with SARS-CoV-2 in pregnancy to their newborns is very limited.
Some cases of vertical transmission (mother to child) have been documented in both cesarean and vaginal deliveries, but these are anecdotal. Data indicate that postpartum transmission is probably the most frequent in cases where the mother is positive.
The virus has been detected in breast milk but could not be cultured so breast milk would not be a source of infection for infants.
What precautions should I take into account when doing so?
The above data support the recommendation that mothers with active infection but with few symptoms can breastfeed if they wish to do so. They should, however, use a mask and follow the remaining hygienic measures to avoid airborne infection.
In cases in which the mother presents a more severe clinical picture with a general condition that prevents direct breastfeeding, her newborn can be breastfed with breast milk expressed with a breast pump.
Wouldn’t it be safer to express breast milk or give another type of milk? Does breast milk prevent the spread of SARS-CoV-2 then?
A recent study published in the journal iScience (October 2020) reports that antibodies have been detected in breast milk from mothers who have had a past COVID-19 infection and breast milk donor mothers with suspected past COVID-19. The degree of protection conferred by these antibodies is not known at this time.
- Any mother who has had a COVID-19 infection can breastfeed if she wishes to do so. If she is no longer contagious, no specific precautions should be taken.
- If a mother is infectious at the time of delivery or throughout breastfeeding, she may breastfeed, but should wear a mask and follow hand hygiene guidelines to minimize the risk of infection.
- Expressing milk is not necessary or recommended unless the mother is unwilling or unable to breastfeed directly.
- There are data suggesting that breast milk from mothers who have already passed the infection has specific antibodies that may be protective for the infant.