During the coronavirus pandemic, continue breastfeeding, even if you were considering weaning. It is best to postpone weaning from breastmilk until after the pandemic has passed.
Along with the social limitations and transmission safety precautions the government has put in place, feeding your child breastmilk is another way to keep them safe and healthy during the current COVID-19 pandemic, as well as during bouts of any illness.
Transmission and Breastmilk:
"Person-to-person spread is thought to occur mainly via respiratory droplets produced when an infected person coughs or sneezes, similar to how influenza (flu) and other respiratory pathogens spread." (Center for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC], 2020)
In limited studies including women with SARS, the virus has not been detected in breastmilk, however, it is not known whether mothers with COVID-19 can transmit the virus via breastmilk. In a recent, but small study in China, a group of six mothers testing positive for COVID-19 were studied after giving birth. No evidence of the virus was found in their samples of breastmilk, cord blood, amniotic fluid or throat swabs of their newborns (Chen et al., 2020)
Breastfeeding Safety:
The immunological properties of human milk protect babies against many illnesses. Breastfeeding mothers should follow these CDC guidelines:
"Whether and how to start or continue breastfeeding should be determined by the mother in coordination with her family and healthcare providers. A mother with confirmed COVID-19 or who is a symptomatic person under investigation should take all possible precautions to avoid spreading the virus to her infant, including washing her hands before touching the infant and wearing a face mask, if possible, while feeding at the breast. If expressing breastmilk with a manual or electric breast pump, the mother should wash her hands before touching any pump or bottle parts and follow recommendations for proper pump cleaning after each use. If possible, consider having someone who is well feed the expressed breast milk to the infant." (Center for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC], 2020)
Seeking Breastmilk?
If you are in need of breastmilk, a Milk Bank is a good resource. Click here to visit the Mother's Milk Bank of Montana website.
If you have a trusted family member or close friend who has extra breastmilk, screening this mother for illness symptoms is advised before sharing breastmilk.
It is possible to re-establish lactation and breastfeeding. See your lactation specialist for more information.
Along with the social limitations and transmission safety precautions the government has put in place, feeding your child breastmilk is another way to keep them safe and healthy during the current COVID-19 pandemic, as well as during bouts of any illness.
Transmission and Breastmilk:
"Person-to-person spread is thought to occur mainly via respiratory droplets produced when an infected person coughs or sneezes, similar to how influenza (flu) and other respiratory pathogens spread." (Center for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC], 2020)
In limited studies including women with SARS, the virus has not been detected in breastmilk, however, it is not known whether mothers with COVID-19 can transmit the virus via breastmilk. In a recent, but small study in China, a group of six mothers testing positive for COVID-19 were studied after giving birth. No evidence of the virus was found in their samples of breastmilk, cord blood, amniotic fluid or throat swabs of their newborns (Chen et al., 2020)
Breastfeeding Safety:
The immunological properties of human milk protect babies against many illnesses. Breastfeeding mothers should follow these CDC guidelines:
"Whether and how to start or continue breastfeeding should be determined by the mother in coordination with her family and healthcare providers. A mother with confirmed COVID-19 or who is a symptomatic person under investigation should take all possible precautions to avoid spreading the virus to her infant, including washing her hands before touching the infant and wearing a face mask, if possible, while feeding at the breast. If expressing breastmilk with a manual or electric breast pump, the mother should wash her hands before touching any pump or bottle parts and follow recommendations for proper pump cleaning after each use. If possible, consider having someone who is well feed the expressed breast milk to the infant." (Center for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC], 2020)
Seeking Breastmilk?
If you are in need of breastmilk, a Milk Bank is a good resource. Click here to visit the Mother's Milk Bank of Montana website.
If you have a trusted family member or close friend who has extra breastmilk, screening this mother for illness symptoms is advised before sharing breastmilk.
It is possible to re-establish lactation and breastfeeding. See your lactation specialist for more information.
Formula Feeding Your Baby During the Pandemic
Money is tight and you're low on baby formula. Should you try that homemade formula recipe you saw online? The answer is no. Do not feed homemade formula to babies; please seek help finding formula instead.
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) warns parents not to feed homemade formula to infants. Babies should be fed only breastmilk or iron-fortified infant formula that has been prepared according to the directions on the package. Homemade formula can harm infants. Do not feed infants the following:
What should I do if I cannot afford formula?
Where can I get help if I do not qualify for benefits?
Information on this page pulled from: AAP News
Additional Resources:
Money is tight and you're low on baby formula. Should you try that homemade formula recipe you saw online? The answer is no. Do not feed homemade formula to babies; please seek help finding formula instead.
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) warns parents not to feed homemade formula to infants. Babies should be fed only breastmilk or iron-fortified infant formula that has been prepared according to the directions on the package. Homemade formula can harm infants. Do not feed infants the following:
- Homemade formula with ingredients like powdered cow's milk, raw milk or sugar, plain cow's milk or milk substitutes like almond or soy milk. They do not have the balance of ingredients.
- Imported infant formula. It might have too much or not enough of some ingredients. If it was not stored or shipped correctly, it could be unsafe to use.
- Watered-down formula. It provides an unbalanced diet and can cause serious growth problems.
What should I do if I cannot afford formula?
- Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC): Mothers who qualify based on income can enroll in WIC to receive vouchers for formula: https://www.fns.usda.gov/wic/wic-how-apply
- Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP): You can use your SNAP Electronic Benefits Transfer card (formerly called food stamps) to buy formula. If you are enrolled in WIC, you also might qualify for SNAP.
- Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF): This program offers temporary cash assistance to qualified families. Locate your state TANF program at https://www.acf.hhs.gov/ofa/help
Where can I get help if I do not qualify for benefits?
- Feeding America is a nonprofit network of 200 food banks. Many provide free baby food, infant formula, diapers and other supplies. Visit https://www.feedingamerica.org/find-your-local-foodbank
- Dial 2-1-1 to be connected to a community resource specialist who can help you find local resources. The number can be dialed from almost anywhere in the U.S. You also can get help online at http://www.211.org/services/food.
Information on this page pulled from: AAP News
Additional Resources:
