Breastfeeding and COVID-19:
Breast milk is the best source of nutrition for most infants. We do not know whether mothers with COVID-19 can transmit the virus via breast milk, but the limited data available suggest this is not likely to be a source of transmission.
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 should be counseled to take all possible precautions to avoid spreading the virus to her infant, including hand hygiene and wearing a cloth face covering.
Governmental Quick Links
Govtrack is tracking Congress’s response to COVID-19. Find information on legislative actions and the nearly 50 Members of Congress who are or have been quarantined, tested positive for COVID-19, or came in contact with someone with COVID-19 at https://www.govtrack.us/covid-
World Health Organization COVID-19 Site
WHO Guidance Breastfeeding and COVID-19
WHO Breastfeeding Decision Tree
Clinical management of severe acute respiratory infection when novel coronavirus (nCoV) infection is suspected Interim Guidance
Mental Health and Psychosocial Considerations During COVID-19 Outbreak
Guidance on the use of masks in light of COVID-19
Healthcare Resources
Vaccinating Pregnant and Lactating Patients Against COVID-19. ACOG recommends that COVID-19 vaccines should not be withheld from pregnant individuals who meet criteria for vaccination based on ACIP-recommended priority groups. COVID-19 vaccines should be offered to lactating individuals similar to non-lactating individuals when they meet criteria for receipt of the vaccine based on prioritization groups outlined by the ACIP. Read the full statement HERE.
Vaccinating Pregnant and Lactating patients
COVID-19 vaccination for pregnant and lactating patients: Converstion Guide for Clinicians
Lactation and Infant Feeding in Emergencies (L.I.F.E.) Support Initiative “COVID-19 Resources.”
Article weighing the risks and benefits of separation. https://trends.hms.harvard.
Podcast: Adapting the Practice of Breastfeeding Medicine During Pandemic Drs. Karen Eglash and Anne Bodnar invite 10 physicians who work across the professional spectrum in clinical breastfeeding medicine to discuss how their practices have adapted to face the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The International Society for Research in Human Milk and Lactation (ISRHML) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the promotion of excellence in research and the dissemination of research findings in the field of human milk and lactation. They hosted a recent live Q&A to address concerns associated with COVID-19. Live COVID-19 Q&A with Human Lactation Experts
Two large JAMA studies found no increase in pandemic-related stillbirths or preterm births or among UK and US women. Read HERE.
John Hopkins Center for Humanitarian Health has created peer-reviewed journal articles that provide an overview of COVID-19 as it relates to maternal and child health and nutrition. John Hopkins will be updating this information every four days. To view the most recent article, please click here.
The Journal of Human Lactation has published an article offering guidance on safe handling of expressed human milk during COVID-19.
The Maternal, Child and Adolescent Health Division (MCAH) partnered with Women, Infants and Children (WIC) to develop guidance for pregnant and breastfeeding women during the COVID-19 pandemic.
MCAH also developed sample social media posts to promote the guidance document. High resolution versions of the images from the posts below which are available for download at the MCAH Social Media page.
Data Workgroup and LABBN have created two beautiful new infographics based on the Data Workgroup’s Virtual Home Visiting Survey for Frontline Staff and Managers. View and Download HERE.
Mothers’ Milk Bank will remain OPEN during Covid-19 outbreak. Mothers’ Milk Bank is committed to ensure that donor human milk continues to be safe and available for all sick babies in our communities. As an organization that provides essential services that supports health care, they have a commitment to those served and in partnership with donors to ensure they are able to continue providing these necessary services. Contact them at: (877) 375-6645 (option 4 for Spanish) and or connect with them at https://mothersmilk.org, To contact the nearest Mothers’ Milk Bank Collection Center connect with them at: https://mothersmilk.org/donate-milk/
In conjunction with the National Perinatal Association, the National Association of Neonatal Nurses review and discuss the most current literature findings and recommendations from the American Academy of Pediatrics, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the World Health Organization regarding mother/newborn infant postpartum care in the hospital if a mother is COVID-19+ HERE
Society for Maternal and Fetal Medicine: Free #COVID19 Online Education Module
- Access it by:
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- If you’re not a member, create a user account: https://t.co/OetCV9pikz
- Visit our Critical Care landing page: https://t.co/XRBPC5st85
- Add the COVID-19 Response Bundle to your cart
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United States Breastfeeding Committee (USBC) webpage “Infant and Young Child Feeding in Emergencies” includes resources specific to COVID-19.
The COVID-19 Infant & Young Child Feeding Constellation and Advisory Council have been formed to support and coordinate the response to the challenges posed by COVID-19 across the United States.
USBC published “Voices from the Field: COVID-19 & Infant Feeding,” the first in a series of publications to create a public record of the lived experience of breastfeeding families and those who support them during the pandemic. Stories will be shared without any identifying information. Please take a few moments right now to share your insights on how the pandemic is impacting the infant feeding landscape.
US Health and Human Services has relaxed their rules for using HIPAA-compliant communication tools for telehealth during the COVID-19 pandemic. Notification of Enforcement Discretion for Telehealth Remote Communications During the COVID-19 Nationwide Public Health Emergency
Compilation of publications and resources Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) and breastfeeding
Welcome Baby and First5LA: COVID-19 Resources for Home Visitors and the Families they serve
COVID-19 Law and Policy Links
The Families First Coronavirus Response Act (H.R. 6201) has been signed into law. The bill responds to the coronavirus outbreak by providing paid sick leave and free coronavirus testing, expanding food assistance and unemployment benefits, and requiring employers to provide additional protections for health care workers. The bill also provides additional funding to food assistance and nutrition programs, including the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC).
Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) and Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) have sent a letter to the National Institutes of Health and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration urging the agencies to consider the needs of pregnant people and other underrepresented populations as they work with pharmaceutical companies to develop a pipeline for COVID-19 vaccines and therapeutics. Their letter encourages the agencies to incentivize the development of vaccine and treatment candidates suitable for use in pregnancy, consult with the Task Force on Research Specific to Pregnant Women and Lactating Women, and increase representation of other underrepresented populations in clinical trials of treatments and vaccines for COVID-19. Read the press release.
H.R. 748 the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES) was signed by the president on March 27, 2020.
Legislative actions Congress is taking related to COVID-19.
Legislators who are unable to legislate because of COVID-19 at https://www.govtrack.us/covid-
Handouts
COVID-19 Things to know if you’re pregnant (English, PDF): Additional versions of this fact sheet are available in Chinese Simplified, Chinese Traditional, Hindi, Hmong, Vietnamese. Arabic Farsi, HYE (Armenian), Korean, Punjabi, Russian, Somali, and Tagalog.
This community library is a collection of Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AA and NHPI) in-language resources on the novel coronavirus (COVID-19). The resource links have been submitted by community members, leaders and national and community-based organizations that are actively working to improve the health & well-being of AA and NHPI communities. This project is community-powered and community-driven directly for communities. AA and NHPI In-Language Resources for Coronavirus (COVID-19)
Collecting and Storing Breastmilk During the COVID Pandemic from Mother’s Milk Bank
March of Dimes COVID-19 Birth Plan: https://www.marchofdimes.org/pregnancy/your-birth-plan.aspx.
Free Printable Resources by Praeclarus Praeclarus offers a repository of royalty-free images that can be shared online and printed for distribution. Digital assets illustrate hand and respiratory hygiene and promote milk donation.
Surveys: Effects of COVID-19 on Infant Feeding
The USBC is collecting stories from breastfeeding families and those who support them.
Researchers from Washington University are conducting a survey-based study to explore the different ways the pandemic is affecting infant feeding decisions.