Coronavirus FAQ: What About Breastfeeding?

Updated March 23

As with so many other elements of the coronavirus, we have limited information on breastfeeding — at this point, the CDC is only offering “interim guidance” until more data becomes available. Unfortunately, there’s not much to learn, as the organization stated that it “has no specific guidance for breastfeeding during infection with similar viruses.” 

According to limited data thus far, the coronavirus has not been detected in infected women’s breastmilk, but the CDC still notes that “we do not know whether mothers with COVID-19 can transmit the virus via breastmilk.”

In interviews with OB/GYNs, they are not seeing problems with infected babies, generally speaking. 

Many health experts (ranging from individual health professionals to organizations like La Leche League and the American Academy of Breastfeeding) are encouraging mothers with COVID-19 (or suspected COVID-19) to continue (or start) breastfeeding. Since the primary mode of transmission is through breathing, they also recommend taking extra precautions — like washing your hands for 20 to 30 seconds and wearing a mask — before/during nursing. One pediatrician from Florida told Huffpost: “It is highly likely that the infant has already been exposed to the virus by the time the diagnosis is made in the mother,” saying that there was therefore no reason to stop nursing. 

Of course, it’s also entirely possible that breastfeeding’s nutritional and immunological benefits may be amplified given the pandemic situation we are living in right now.

La Leche League corroborates this message, saying that changing nursing habits on account of COVID-19 may have negative effects, like lower milk supply, emotional effects and reduced immunological benefits from breastfeeding. Furthermore, LLL states: “when any member of the family has been exposed, the infant has been exposed. Hence, any interruption of breastfeeding may actually increase the infant’s risk of becoming ill and even of becoming severely ill.”

All of this said– keep in mind that there is NO official guidance for any of this. Yet. It’s too new, and we’re still in the learning stages.

Our advice would be to follow your gut and do what feels right for you, even if it means pumping and having a partner feed the baby. Or using formula. Because at the end of the day, we’re basically in survival mode right now. “Fed is best” really does apply here. We just need to get through this however we can. 

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