Breastfeeding in the context of Covid-19

BREASTFEEDING protects new-borns from getting sick and also helps protect them throughout their infancy and childhood.

Breastfeeding is particularly effective against infectious diseases because it strengthens the immune system by directly transferring antibodies from the mother.

As with all confirmed or suspected Covid-19 cases, mothers with any symptoms who are breastfeeding or practicing skin-to-skin contact should take precautions.

Actions for breastfeeding mothers

◆ Practice respiratory hygiene, including during feeding. If you have respiratory symptoms such as being short of breath, use a medical mask when near your child.

◆ Wash your hands thoroughly with soap or sanitiser before and after contact with your child.

◆ Routinely clean and disinfect any surfaces you touch.

◆ If you are severely ill with Covid-19 or suffer from other complications that prevent you from caring for your infant or continuing direct breastfeeding, express milk to safely provide breast milk to your infant.

◆ If you are too unwell to breastfeed or express breast milk, you should explore the possibility of relactation (restarting breastfeeding after a gap), wet nursing (another woman breastfeeding or caring for your child), or using donor human milk. Which approach to use will depend on cultural context, acceptability to you, and service availability.

Actions for health facilities and their staff

If you are providing maternity and new-born services, you should not promote breast milk substitutes, feeding bottles, teats, pacifiers or dummies in any part of your facilities, or by any of your staff.

Enable mothers and infants to remain together and practice skin-to-skin contact, and rooming-in throughout the day and night, especially straight after birth during establishment of breastfeeding, whether or not the mother or child has suspected, probable, or confirmed Covid-19.

Counselling and psychosocial support

If you, your infants, or young children have suspected or confirmed Covid-19, seek breastfeeding counselling, basic psychosocial support, or practical feeding support.

You may get support from appropriately trained health care professionals and also community-based lay and peer breastfeeding counsellors.

Standard infant feeding guidelines

◆ Initiate breastfeeding within one hour of the birth.

◆Continue exclusive breastfeeding for six months, then introduce adequate and safe complementary foods at age six months.

◆ Continue breastfeeding up to two years of age or beyond. — WHO.

— Picture: Tinai Nyadzayo Minister of State for Manicaland Provincial Affairs, Dr Ellen Gwaradzimba (left) receives food and beverages from Dairiboard Holdings marketing director, Mrs Tracey Mutaviri (right), on behalf of Victoria Chitepo Provincial Hospital. Dairiboard’s donation is part of the $3 million worth of products and $1 million cash pledged towards the Covid-19 fight.