Guide to breastfeeding mothers who are positive for coronavirus

Most of the patients infected with COVID-19 are required to undergo treatment in the hospital. So, what if the one who is infected with the coronavirus is a mother who has just given birth and needs to breastfeed her child?

A breastfeeding guide for mothers who are positive for the COVID-19 coronavirus

Breastfeeding protects newborns from illness, has a major impact on the development of children, and helps reduce the risk of disease transmission. This is because breast milk can strengthen the baby's immune system by directly transferring antibodies from the mother.

Then, when a mother who is positive for coronavirus can breastfeed or not? So far, the CDC supports mothers to continue breastfeeding their babies even though they are infected with a virus that attacks the respiratory system.

This is because in some limited studies the SARS-CoV-2 virus was not found in breast milk. However, it is still not known whether an infected mother can spread the virus through breast milk.

Therefore, there are a number of things that need to be considered when breastfeeding even though you have tested positive for coronavirus.

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1. Use a mask when breastfeeding

One of the safe ways that need to be done when a coronavirus positive mother breastfeeds her baby is to keep using a mask.

Reporting from the Association of Indonesian Breastfeeding Mothers (AIMI), for mothers who experience symptoms but are still able to breastfeed, they should use a mask. Even more so if you do it directly to the baby.

Efforts to prevent COVID-19 are carried out so that the splash of water when the mother sneezes or coughs does not hit the baby who is breastfeeding. Therefore, it is highly recommended to keep using a mask while breastfeeding in order to reduce the risk of direct transmission to the baby.

2. Keep washing your hands regularly

In addition to using masks, mothers who are positive for coronavirus certainly still need to make efforts to prevent transmission of COVID-19 by washing their hands.

Try to wash your hands for 20 seconds using soap or hand sanitizer containing 60-95% alcohol. Do this good habit before and after breastfeeding because you realize it or not you will be in contact with the baby. This also applies to mothers who pump breast milk or directly breastfeed their babies.

That way, the chances of the virus sticking to your hands and transferring to your baby will be smaller because your hands are clean and free from harmful pathogens.

3. Pumping breast milk if experiencing moderate symptoms

If mothers who are positive for coronavirus experience moderate symptoms, such as shortness of breath and difficulty breastfeeding their babies right away, it is time to pump your breast milk.

You see, the spread of COVID-19 generally occurs when an infected patient is near other people and splashes of water when coughing, sneezing or talking. Until now, the SARS-CoV-2 virus has not been found in breast milk or can be transmitted by breastfeeding a baby.

However, it is better to pump breast milk when you experience symptoms of COVID-19 which make your body unfit and unable to breastfeed immediately.

In addition, mothers who are breastfeeding also need to undergo independent isolation and inevitably be separated from their babies. This decision is usually made by a team of doctors or specialists based on factors for the health of the mother and baby.

If you and your baby can still be together, breastfeeding directly at the breast is recommended. However, when the mother's condition worsens, you should do the treatment in a separate room from other people, including your baby.

If this happens, pumping breast milk is of course the last option. Then, another person or nurse will give your child breast milk. Even if you do not immediately give milk to the baby, mothers who are infected with the coronavirus and breastfeeding should still wash their hands before and after pumping.

If mother and baby are temporarily separated, the mother is encouraged to express the milk, and someone else, such as a nurse, will feed the child. Even if the baby does not want to breastfeed at the breast, the mother should still wash her hands before and after pumping.

Then, mothers who are positive for coronavirus can stop isolating themselves from the baby after not experiencing a fever without taking fever-reducing drugs for at least 72 hours.

Self-isolation can also be ended when other COVID-19 symptoms have improved and at least 7 days have passed after symptoms have started.

4. Clean the contaminated surface

For mothers who are positive for coronavirus and still need to breastfeed their babies, either directly from the breast or pumped, don't forget to keep clean. You can do this by cleaning surfaces or objects with a disinfectant.

What's more, if you pump breastmilk, of course the cleanliness of the breastmilk pump must be maintained so that the virus does not stick to the object, such as:

• table surface used when pumping
• The exterior of the pump is cleaned according to the instructions, both before and after
• The pump is cleaned during each pumping session with dish soap and water
• the pump part should be sanitized at least once a day with a steam bag
• pump parts are not placed directly in the sink and must be cleaned immediately
• Clean the sink and brush the bottle with soap and water after use
• Don't forget to clean any other surfaces the child may touch

If a mother coughs or sneezes on an uncovered breast, immediately clean the splashed skin before coming into contact with the baby or the pump.

How to maintain a supply of breast milk when infected with the coronavirus?

Breastmilk pumps are very helpful in the first few days after the baby is born so that they can still get their nutritional needs. Breastfeeding mothers may be able to pump milk with a device to maintain milk supplies even though they are positive for the coronavirus.

You also need to maintain a healthy body and still pay attention to nutritional intake for yourself so that the process of pumping breast milk remains smooth. Usually, this method should match the demands of breastfeeding your baby, which is about 8-10 times a day.

The COVID-19 pandemic is indeed a situation that is quite worrying for many people. Therefore, try to remain optimistic and maintain a clean and healthy body so that stress can be managed properly. This includes getting enough sleep, eating a healthy diet, and getting regular exercise.

If you have problems with eating, have pain in your nipples, decreased milk supply, don't hesitate to ask for help or consult a doctor. That way, mothers can still breastfeed their babies so that they stay healthy even though they are positive for the COVID-19 coronavirus.