Cebu City - The COVID-19 pandemic had caused a drastic change in the Philippines and in the world. As of 09 May 2022, based on the Department of Health statistics, there are 193,195 total corona virus cases in the Central Visayas since 2020 with 164 active cases at present. Everyone is affected and among the most involved are the mothers especially the breastfeeding moms. There are a lot of concerns, but the most question is “Is it safe to breastfeed the baby if the mother is COVID-19 positive?”
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), it is okay to breastfeed the baby even if the mother is confirmed to have the infection. However, one must strictly follow infection control protocols like frequent washing of hands with soap and water or using an alcohol-based hand sanitizer and especially before touching the baby; coughing etiquette; routinely clean and disinfect surfaces that mothers have touched and wearing of medical mask during any contact with the baby, including feeding. It is important to replace medical masks as soon as they become damp and dispose them immediately. Mask should not be reused or touched in the front.
Breastfeeding is one of the most effective ways to ensure child health and survival. Mother’s breastmilk is the ideal food for infants, it is clean, safe, and contains antibodies that help protect babies against many common childhood illnesses.
It provides all the energy and nutrients that the infant needs for the first month of life and continues to provide up to half or more of the child’s needs during the second half of the first year. Breastfeeding unquestionable reduces child mortality in newborns and infants and provides numerous lifelong health and brain development advantages to the child. Ut
COVID-19 has become part of our new normal and now part of our daily lives, so we must live with it but be more health-conscious and follow infection control protocols. // NO I Armie D. Plando, RN
Sources: https://www.who.int/health-topics/breastfeeding#tab=tab_1
https://www.who.int/news-room/questions-and-answers/item/coronavirus-disease-covid-19-breastfeeding
https://doh.gov.ph/2019-nCoV?gclid=CjwKCAjw9-KTBhBcEiwAr19ig4PNRxYIGjU8Vh2h-Y0qT53-sHkNhx6qFfVJ2EB0tT5ATQnEqaAmExoCV5QQAvD_BwE
