Women are the most powerful creatures in this world, and in the time of pandemic they have been handling more than enough. Pressure is on them to take care of their family from older people to their little ones and that makes them worry more. Many new moms have been wondering about the safety of their little child while breastfeeding because you never know when and how the coronavirus enters your body.
Many researchers from different countries are still having medical research on this new virus but some studies have shown that it is safe to breastfeed your child during Covid-19 whereas, you will have to follow some precautions and protocols in case you show any symptoms of Covid-19.
“Some studies have shown no sign of the virus in breastmilk in both infected and healthy mothers at least till last trimester. It would be safe for a baby to have breastmilk. However, it would be beneficial for the baby and mother to have no skin contact and feed the baby by using a breast pump or with any other techniques and the mother will have to isolate themselves until they recover from Covid-19” said Dr. Rachna Pathak.
According to research, the virus enters your body and you show symptoms of having the infection after a few days which you can pass to another person in small droplets coming out of your mouth or nose when you sneeze, cough or speak. In that case, mothers of newborn babies can not pass the virus through breast milk but they can definitely pass it by coughing, sneezing, or speaking.
We know that newborn babies are more vulnerable to be infected. To protect your child from the virus, a mother should isolate herself. She should never touch her baby without a mask, gloves, or without sanitizing the hand.
If you are infected or showing symptoms of Covid-19, you should clean all the surfaces and nearby areas where you have been before leaving the baby in the same area. It is important to keep sanitizing the floor or things that you have touched because this virus can survive up to 48 hours on any surface.
If you are worried about your child getting any immunity from your breastmilk, then do not worry because science has shown that there is no harm in breastmilk. Breastmilk not only fills your baby’s tummy, but it also provides them immunity and protects them against bacterias and viruses. It is still not known if your breastmilk can pass the antibody into your child or not but it can definitely protect the baby against it.
If you are showing any symptom of Covid-19 or is having the infection you should talk to your doctor first because the medications you are taking can harm the baby or it may not. But it is important to take your doctor’s advice on taking any medication when you are breastfeeding the baby.