Breastfeeding and COVID-19
There is a lot of information circulating online regarding breastfeeding and COVID-19. I would like to summarize the latest info from some of the world’s expert health organizations
At this time, it is unknown whether COVID-19 can be passed through breastmilk. In the few studies that have been done involving COVID-19, the virus was not detected in human milk. The virus is spread through “respiratory droplets” when an infected person coughs or sneezes. (1)
The Center for Disease Control (CDC) recommends continued breastfeeding for all nursing mothers. For those mothers who may have the virus or have been tested and found positive to have the virus, the mother should wash her hands before and after touching or breastfeeding the baby and wear a mask, if possible, when nursing. (1)
The Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine’s (ABM) guidelines are a little stricter. They recommend the above guidelines from the CDC but also suggest more safety measures. They recommend anyone who has contact with the infected mother should use hand sanitizer than contains between 60% and 95% alcohol before and after they touch the mom. The ABM also recommends another healthy person in the household take care of the baby when the mom is not nursing him or her, if possible. They also suggest talking to a healthcare provider if the family wants to stop the isolation of the nursing mother in the home. (2)
The World Health Organization (WHO) has similar guidelines as the CDC: keep breastfeeding, practice good hygiene by washing hands before and after touching and nursing the baby, wear a mask (if available) when nursing, and also disinfect anything the mom has touched. If the mom is too sick to breastfeed, consider expressing breastmilk and using donor milk. Relactation is also mentioned for those who stopped breastfeeding recently, because breastmilk protects babies against many illnesses. (2)(3)
UNICEF recommends the same guidelines as WHO, do I will not reiterate those. (4)
The United States Breastfeeding Committee (USBC) has a lot of great info and resources on their website about breastfeeding in an emergency. I recommend checking them out!
As always, if you have any concerns about breastfeeding, your health or your baby’s health, please contact your local lactation consultant and/or healthcare provider.
(1) CDC guidelines
(2) Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine guidelines
(3) WHO guidelines
(4) UNICEF guidelines
At this time, it is unknown whether COVID-19 can be passed through breastmilk. In the few studies that have been done involving COVID-19, the virus was not detected in human milk. The virus is spread through “respiratory droplets” when an infected person coughs or sneezes. (1)
The Center for Disease Control (CDC) recommends continued breastfeeding for all nursing mothers. For those mothers who may have the virus or have been tested and found positive to have the virus, the mother should wash her hands before and after touching or breastfeeding the baby and wear a mask, if possible, when nursing. (1)
The Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine’s (ABM) guidelines are a little stricter. They recommend the above guidelines from the CDC but also suggest more safety measures. They recommend anyone who has contact with the infected mother should use hand sanitizer than contains between 60% and 95% alcohol before and after they touch the mom. The ABM also recommends another healthy person in the household take care of the baby when the mom is not nursing him or her, if possible. They also suggest talking to a healthcare provider if the family wants to stop the isolation of the nursing mother in the home. (2)
The World Health Organization (WHO) has similar guidelines as the CDC: keep breastfeeding, practice good hygiene by washing hands before and after touching and nursing the baby, wear a mask (if available) when nursing, and also disinfect anything the mom has touched. If the mom is too sick to breastfeed, consider expressing breastmilk and using donor milk. Relactation is also mentioned for those who stopped breastfeeding recently, because breastmilk protects babies against many illnesses. (2)(3)
UNICEF recommends the same guidelines as WHO, do I will not reiterate those. (4)
The United States Breastfeeding Committee (USBC) has a lot of great info and resources on their website about breastfeeding in an emergency. I recommend checking them out!
As always, if you have any concerns about breastfeeding, your health or your baby’s health, please contact your local lactation consultant and/or healthcare provider.
(1) CDC guidelines
(2) Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine guidelines
(3) WHO guidelines
(4) UNICEF guidelines
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