Breastmilk provides the most ideal nutrition for infants having the nearly perfect mix of nutrients needed for growth and development. Breastmilk provides all the energy and nutrients that the infant needs for the first months of life, and it continues to provide up to half or more of a child’s nutritional needs during the second half of the first year, and up to one third during the second year of life. It also contains antibodies that gives protection from many common childhood illnesses.
Amidst the pandemic, breastmilk still offers the best nutrition thus provision of breastmilk to infants should not be stopped. To date, there is no evidence that the COVID-19 virus can be transmitted through breastmilk and cause infection in the newborn, instead, COVID-19 antibodies are found in breastmilk of infected and vaccinated mothers. This suggest that optimal nutrition can continuously be given to infants through direct exclusive breastfeeding.
A breastfeeding mother who contracted the virus should continue the provision of breastmilk to her baby by:
- Wearing a mask when she is less than 6 feet from the child, including when she is breastfeeding, cup feeding or even expressing her breast milk.
- Washing of hands using soap and water before touching the child or expressing the breast milk either by hand expression or with a breast pump.
- Breastfeeding infant in a well-ventilated area.
In case direct breastfeeding is not feasible, she can be supported in continuing the provision of safe breastmilk to her baby through the following recommendations:
- Mother expressing her Own Milk (MOM) for neonatal nutrition and for establishment and maintenance of milk production.
- Provision of Pasteurized Donor Milk (PDM) as source of temporary feeding for the infant.
The power of breast milk is undeniably strong for the nutrition and protection of babies. This pandemic, lets protect, promote and support exclusive breastfeeding as its benefits substantially outweigh the potential risks for transmission of COVID-19 virus.
Written by: NO II Bianca Estrella
References:
Center for Disease Control (CDC). (2021). Care for Breastfeeding People: Interim Guidance on Breastfeeding and Breast Milk Feeds in the Context of COVID-19. Retrieved from: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/hcp/care-for-breastfeeding-women.html
Philippine Society of Newborn Medicine, Inc. (PSNbM). (2021). Position Statement on the Care of the Newborns During COVID-19 Pandemic. Retrieved from: https://bit.ly/NewbornCareDuringCovid19Pandemic
Taylor, R.B. (2020). Breastfeeding. Retrieved from: https://www.webmd.com/parenting/baby/nursing-basics
World Health Organization. (n.d.) Breastfeeding. Retrieved from: https://www.who.int/health-topics/breastfeeding#tab=tab_1
World Health Organization. (2020). Breastfeeding and COVID-19. Retrieved from: https://www.who.int/news-room/commentaries/detail/breastfeeding-and-covid-19
