Breastfeeding during COVID-19

We understand how stressful it can be to navigate life as a new parent. With the added anxiety brought on by COVID-19, we want to share trusted information to breastfeeding mothers who are COVID-19 positive or suspected positive, on whether their milk is still safe and beneficial for their baby.

COVID-19 is a new disease and researchers are still studying how the disease spreads. However, breast milk remains the best source of nutrition for most infants.

Current guidance from the Centers for Disease Control states that a mother who has been confirmed or suspected to have COVID-19 should take all precautions to avoid spreading the virus to her infant. These steps include:

• Washing hands with soap and water for 20 seconds before touching the infant, pumping equipment or feeding supplies.
• Wear a face mask when breastfeeding, pumping or handling the baby.
• If using a breast pump, washing hands before touching the pump and following CDC recommendations for cleaning the pump after each use.
• Follow current CDC guidelines for proper breastmilk handling and storage.
• If bottle feeding pumped breast milk, have someone who is well feed the baby, if possible.

“Although there’s limited research available on whether COVID-19 is transmitted via breastmilk, studies on similar viruses did not find the virus in the milk,” said Dr. Reshmi Basu, a CHOC pediatrician. “A mother’s milk does contain specially made antibodies, produced by the mother’s body to protect her and her child from various viruses. These antibodies are transferred in breastmilk.”

Cindy Baker-Fox, registered nurse and certified lactation consultant at CHOC, explains how these antibodies make breastmilk a good source of nutrition for infants.

“Lifesaving antibodies in breastmilk protect babies from many illnesses and are one of the many unique properties found in human breast milk, making it not only a good source of nutrition but also valuable medicine for newborns and infants.”

If you have specific questions about breastfeeding and your baby, contact your pediatrician.

This article was updated August 5, 2020.

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