Mothers ‘unlikely to pass COVID-19 on’ to newborns
A reassuring study suggests breastfeeding is fine if a mother with the infection practises strict hygiene
Mothers with COVID-19 can safely breastfeed and share a room with their newborn if they follow standard hygiene measures, suggests the largest study to date.
A US study of 82 babies born to mothers with coronavirus found none of the infants tested positive to COVID-19 at one day, one week or two weeks after birth.
Unless there were other medical contraindications, all mothers had skin-to-skin contact with their newborn within an hour of birth.
Before breastfeeding, the mothers cleaned their hands and breasts, and donned a surgical mask.
