Submitted by Jeanine Connell
RN and Maternal Child Health Coordinator
LCO Community Health Center
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention most current update from June 25, 2020 have some information regarding COVID-19 and breastfeed. Mother’s who choose to breastfeed:
· Breast milk provides protection against many illnesses and is the best source of nutrition for most infants.
· We do not know for sure if mothers with COVID-19 can spread the virus to babies in their breast milk, but the limited data available suggest this is not likely.
· If you have COVID-19 and choose to breastfeed:
Wear a mask while breastfeeding and wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds before each feeding
· If you have COVID -19 and choose to express breast milk:
Use a dedicated breast pump (not shared).
Wear a mask during expression and wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds before touching any pump or bottle parts and before expressing breast milk
Follow recommendations for proper pump cleaning after each use, cleaning all parts that come into contact with breast milk
If possible, expressed breast milk should be fed to the infant by a healthy caregiver who does not have COVID-19, is not at high-risk for severe illness from COVID-19, and is living in the same home
· You, along with your family and healthcare providers, should decide whether and how to start or continue breastfeeding.
If you would like more information on this topic please go to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website and Search for If You Are Pregnant, Breastfeeding, or Caring for Young Children or follow this link:
Another helpful resource was created by the World Health Organization follow this link:
Or, if you do not have internet access and would like more information you can call Jeanine Connell, RN and Maternal Child Health Coordinator at the Lac Courte Oreilles Community Health Center.
