With so much discussion and concern about the coronavirus, it is normal to be concerned about protecting your baby from the virus and feeding your baby. Breastfeeding and feeding your baby breast milk is still one of the best things you can do for your baby’s health and development.
The coronavirus (COVID-19) is a serious new threat, but we know that as parents, your highest priority is to keep your baby safe and as healthy as possible. It is also important to protect your own health.
The measures we have taken to protect your baby from infectious diseases should now be used for everyone:
- Wash your hands frequently with soap and warm water for at least 20 seconds. If washing your hands with soap and water is not possible, use a hand sanitizer containing at least ` alcohol.
- Minimize visitors to your home during flu season and other high-risk times and avoid activities with large crowds, especially indoor activities.
- Clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces and objects at home and in the car.
- Cough and sneeze into a disposable tissue and wash your hands after throwing it in the trash.
Breast milk helps to build your baby’s immune system and protect it from diseases. The immune-supporting/protective proteins and antibodies in breast milk prevent contamination
Research on COVID-19 is limited. Therefore, information is shared based on previous experiences with viral respiratory diseases such as influenza. Because it is so new, we do not yet know whether the COVID-19 virus is transmitted through breast milk. Like the flu, the virus is transmitted by respiratory droplets when an infected person coughs or sneezes. It is also transmitted by touching an infected area that the infected person has been in contact with and then touching our face or eyes.
What does this mean for breastfeeding mothers?
Continue breastfeeding as directly as possible.
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- If you are infected or suspect you have been exposed to someone who is infected:
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- Wear a mask when holding and feeding your baby.
- Wash your hands before you start feeding and again immediately afterwards.
- Wash your hands every time you touch your baby, before and immediately after changing a diaper.
- Let people who you know are especially good and healthy help you. It is really hard to rest as a new mom, but rest is important to overcome infection.
- Drink plenty of water. Drinking water is always important for breastfeeding mothers. It becomes more important when you are fighting an infection or fever. Fever dehydrates you, so it is important to drink water often.
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Breast pump use:
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- Wash your hands before assembling your breast pump parts and wash them again immediately after use.
- After using the pump, wash the parts again with warm, soapy water, rinse and air dry.
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- Wipe the pump with an all-purpose cleaner or baby wipes without getting it too wet. Allow it to air dry.
- Ensure that your baby is bottle-fed by a healthy person
- Drink water often.
What about drugs that can be used to treat COVID-19 and even Influenza-A?
As of the writing of this article, there is no known medicine or vaccine to treat COVID-19. There are several medicines used and being tested for other viral respiratory infections.
If your doctor recommends that you take antiviral medicines, share the information that you are breastfeeding or using a breast pump. Ask your doctor about the risk to your baby. This will help you make the best possible decision as you try to minimize the risk of infecting your baby and protect your milk supply.
(Reference: Philip O. Anderson. Breastfeeding and Respiratory Antivirals: Coronavirus and Influenza. Breastfeeding Medicine.https://doi.org/10.1089/bfm.2020.29149.poa; published online February 27, 2020)
Author:
Olivia Mayer is a clinical dietitian at a children’s hospital in Northern California.