COVID-19 and Breastfeeding

Abstract

Recent studies have shown that approximately 2-5% of neonates born to mothers with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) are infected with severe acute respiratory coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), the causative virus of COVID-19. Neonates are more likely to acquire SARS-CoV-2 via horizontal transmission from infected mothers or other care providers after birth and to date, breast milk is unlikely to be the source of transmission of SARS-CoV-2. Rather, the breast milk of infected mothers can be beneficial to their babies by providing protective antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 infection. In addition, breastfeeding mothers who have received mRNA COVID-19 vaccines have specific antibodies in their breast milk, which could help protect babies. The nutritional and immunological benefits of breast milk outweigh the transmission risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection. Here the author reviews the latest findings on COVID-19 and breastfeeding and introduces the current recommendations on breastfeeding in mothers with COVID-19 and vaccination while breastfeeding.