[Science Update] Safety of breastfeeding by mothers infected by SARS-CoV-2

2 min read /
General Nutrition Public health
mother-newborn

Safety of breastfeeding by mothers infected with SARS-CoV-2 has been investigated in various studies since the outset of pandemic. This review article summarized latest evidence on this topic.

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Key points include:

  • Robust evidence indicated that SARS-CoV-2 does NOT transmit through human milk
  • Infected mothers can pass antibodies in their milk that help protect their babies against SARS-CoV-2
  • Under appropriate hand hygiene and masking efforts,
    • ALL evidence reveals that the risk to babies from their infected mothers is virtually nil
  • NO evidence that babies should be separated from their infected mothers who are able to establish or continue breastfeeding
  • The dominant transmission route for SARS-CoV-2 is through inhalation of respiratory droplets containing the virus particles
  • Other potential transmission routes are fecal-oral, trans-placental and through a contaminated surface (much lesser extent)
     

Link to the full article:

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8817633/
 

Reference:

Powell RLR. Safety of breast/chest-feeding by those infected by SARS-CoV-2. Curr Opin Clin Nutr Metab Care. 2022;25(2):129-132.
 

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WYE-EM-036-MAR-22