How to give your baby the health benefits of breast milk during a pandemic.
Physicians stress that breastfeeding your baby during the COVID-19 pandemic is safe if you stay up to date on vaccinations and follow a few key precautions.
Breast milk is one of the best things parents can feed their little ones to give them a healthy start. It’s easy to digest, strengthens the immune system, prevents illness, and reduces the risk of obesity.
But the COVID-19 pandemic has created concerns for some parents, who worry about passing the virus to a newborn through milk. Physicians stress that parents can safely feed human milk to infants during the COVID-19 pandemic, whether it’s through breastfeeding or by putting pumped milk in a bottle.
Maria Wright, MD, a pediatrician at the Kaiser Permanente South Sacramento Medical Center, shared proactive steps you can take to protect your health and that of your baby.
People who are pregnant or have recently been pregnant are at increased risk for getting very sick from COVID-19. Vaccination (including getting a booster shot when you are eligible) is one of the most powerful ways you can protect yourself. You don’t need to delay or stop breastfeeding after getting vaccinated. In fact, research shows that people who’ve been vaccinated against COVID-19 have antibodies in their milk that could help protect their babies.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has determined that the COVID-19 vaccine is safe and effective for everyone 6 months and older. Vaccination is recommended even if the baby’s mother was vaccinated or had a COVID-19 infection before or during pregnancy.
Even if you are fully vaccinated, follow these steps to keep yourself and your baby safe:
If you’ve been diagnosed with COVID-19, it’s still possible to give your baby the benefits of human milk. Current evidence suggests that your milk is not likely to spread the virus to babies. If you have an active coronavirus infection, follow these preventive measures (in addition to the hygiene tips above):
By taking these important safety precautions, you can give your baby the benefits of human milk while still keeping him or her healthy during the pandemic.
Learn more about COVID-19 during and after pregnancy.