According to the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), breastmilk is still the best source of nutrition for babies and protects them against illness. However, with the emergence of the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, breastfeeding has become a concern especially for mothers diagnosed with the disease with the fear of transmitting the virus to their young ones through breastmilk.
However, this should not be the case as breastfeeding significantly outweigh the potential risks of transmission and illness associated with COVID-19. The importance of breastfeeding was reiterated in a joint statement of the Department of Health, World Health Organization (WHO), and UNICEF.
“Breastfeeding is the most complete and sustainable nutrition for the first 6 months of life, with continued benefits when done with complementary feeding for older infants and children. In this pandemic, mothers should not be worried about breastfeeding, as long as proper infection prevention and control (IPC) measures are observed,” Health Secretary Francisco T. Duque, III said in the joint statement.
To date, COVID-19 virus has not been detected in the breastmilk of any mother with confirmed or suspected COVID-19. Breastfeeding infants and children will protect them from getting sick because of the antibodies received from their mothers’ breastmilk. The antibodies strengthen the immune system of the infants and children and protects them from infections and diseases such as pneumonia, diarrhea, and sepsis.
We must do our part in preventing the worsening of the nutrition situation in the country due to the pandemic. Breastfeed babies to ensure their healthy growth and development while practicing good hygiene during feeding. During this COVID-19 pandemic, mothers should follow the 3Ws:
Wear a mask during feeding,
Wash hands with soap before and after touching the baby, and
Wipe and disinfect surfaces regularly.
If a mother cannot continue to care for her infant or continue direct breastfeeding due to COVID-19 and its complication, she can express her milk and ask a non-infected family member to feed the baby using a clean cup while following the 3Ws.
In case the mother is too unwell to breastfeed or express breastmilk, the family may choose an alternative, one that is acceptable and available to them. Wet-nursing or another woman breastfeeding the child may be an option depending on its acceptability to mothers/families, cultural acceptability and availability of wet nurse. If HIV is prevalent in the area, prospective wet-nurses should undergo HIV assessment and/or testing.
Donor breastmilk from human milk banks is also a good option for mothers too unwell to breastfeed. (https://bit.ly/DonorBreastmilkNNCNCR)
Recovered mothers can start to breastfeed when she feels well enough to do so. There is no fixed time interval to wait. Mothers should be supported to ensure full recovery to initiate breastfeeding or relactation, if needed. Breastfeeding Support Groups (BFSGs) in the local government units can be tapped to give lactation massage to mothers who have poor breastmilk production or to those who want to relactate or start breastfeeding again.
In support of the National Breastfeeding Awareness Month this August with the theme, “Breastfeeding TSEk: (Tama, Sapat, at Eksklusibo!) I-BIDA ang pagpapasuso tungo saw ais at malusog na pamayanan,”, let us continue to protect, promote, and support breastfeeding amidst COVID-19. (TAR/MEVF/NNC-NCR)
Sources:
- https://www.unicef.org/eap/breastfeeding-during-covid-19
- Frequently Asked Questions: Breastfeeding and COVID-19 for Health Care Workers, WHO, 28 April 2020
- Breastfeeding must continue amidst covid-19, Joint Media Release of DOH, WHO, and UNICEF, 05, August 2020
Click this link to know more on how to donate or procure breastmilk from human milk banks in Metro Manila:
