During this world-wide pandemic, a lot of questions were still left unanswered. When will this end? Can someone invent a vaccine for this? What will happen to us after all of this is over? Can we still go back to normal? Undeniably, for mothers, they all hoped for the best for their children and they are not excluded from those people asking for answers to their questions. Luckily for them, the World Health Organization (WHO) answered the frequently asked questions of breastfeeding mothers.

• Can COVID-19 be passed through breastfeeding?

To date, the virus has not been detected in the breastmilk of any mother with confirmed/suspected COVID-19. Therefore, it appears unlikely that the virus would be transmitted through breastfeeding.

In fact, Dr. Rebecca Powell, assistant professor of medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, is actively gathering breast milk to study its antibodies which she hoped that the antibody levels are high and have protective function so that it could be purified and used in treatments in severe cases of COVID-19.

• If a mother is confirmed/suspected to have COVID-19, should she still continue breastfeeding?

Yes. The transmission of COVID-19 through breast milk and breastfeeding has not been detected. While breastfeeding, a mother should still implement appropriate hygiene measures, including wearing a medical/surgical  mask if available, to reduce the possibility of droplets of COVID-19 being spread to her infant.

Unquestionably, there are a lot of benefits of breastfeeding especially during a pandemic. Breast milk provides ideal nutrition for babies. In fact, breast milk contains everything the baby needs for the first six months of life. Its composition even changes according to the baby’s changing needs, especially during the first month of life. Breast milk also contains important antibodies that help the baby fight off viruses and bacteria.

• If a mother is confirmed/suspected to have COVID-19, is infant formula milk safer for infants?

No. There are always risks associated with giving infant formula milk to newborns and infants in all settings.

It is repeatedly said that babies should be exclusively breastfed for the first six months and continued to be breastfed beyond six months with complementary feeding. A biochemist at the University of California studied the effects and risks of formula-fed babies. He concluded that formula-fed babies experience metabolic stress that could put them at a greater risk than breast-fed babies to a wide range of health issues.

• It is alright for health facilities to accept free supplies of formula milk for infants of mothers with confirmed/suspected COVID-19?

No. Donations of infant formula milks should not be sought or accepted. Donated formula milk is commonly of variable quality, of the wrong type, supplied disproportionate to need, labelled in the wrong language, not accompanied by an essential package of care, distributed indiscriminately, and takes excessive time and resources to reduce risks.

The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) clarified that while milk donations per se are not prohibited items for distribution to communities, infant formula milk donations are banned under the regulations issued by the Department of Health (DOH) and adopted by the DILG. It is also stated under Executive Order No. 51 (E.O. 51) that the acceptance and distribution of donations of infant formula, powdered milk and other breastmilk substitutes, commercial baby food, feeding bottles, artificial nipples and teats are strictly prohibited because it undermines exclusive breastfeeding in the first six months of a newborn.

• What are the hygiene recommendations for a breastfeeding mother confirmed/suspected to have COVID-19?

She should wash her hands frequently with soap and water or use alcohol-based hand rub, especially before touching the baby. She should also wear a medical face mask while feeding and it is important that such mask is replaced, disposed immediately, and not to re-use the mask. She should also sneeze or cough into a tissue and immediately dispose of it and use alcohol-based hand rub or wash hands with soap and water.

It is very important to know the answers to these questions to avoid passing or sharing wrong information. As some would say, “children are the future”. Our children, who will also be the parents of the next generations’ children, will have to be healthy as much as possible. Breastfeeding amidst this pandemic should be continued and should not be the reason for mothers to be afraid that they will pass the virus to their babies because this is not yet confirmed by researchers. However, mothers should still observe proper hygiene, wear a face mask, and observe cleanliness at all times. A healthy mother is a healthy baby, who will be the future of this generation.

AA VI Cielo Katrina M. Mabalot