​Safe & Healthy Breastfeeding During the COVID-19 Pandemic: What Every New Mom Needs to Know by Jennifer Ritchie Lactation Consultant

Breastfeeding can be stressful for new moms during the best of circumstances, but throw in a global pandemic and that stress can go into overdrive. Here are some insights new and expecting moms need to know in order to safely breastfeed and confidently bond with Baby during COVID-19:

• Rest assured, your breast milk is still a safe bet. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), breast milk is still the best source of nutrition for most infants and is believed safe to consume even after Mom has been infected. In limited reports of lactating women infected with SARS-CoV, the virus was not detected in breast milk, and antibodies against SARS-CoV were detected in at least one sample.

• Reduce stress in any way you can. This is a stressful time to have a baby, and anxiety can have a substantial impact on a child's developing oxytocin systems. Oxytocin helps us relate to others, strengthens trust, fosters closeness in relationships and can be triggered by eye contact, empathy or touch. Studies show a new mother's oxytocin levels can influence her behavior and, as a result, the bond she makes with her baby. So reduce stress in any way you can.

• Focus on the first two weeks. Most breastfeeding problems occur in the first two weeks of a child’s life, leading many moms to give up too early. Your focus, in the beginning, should be to make it past these first two weeks before throwing in the towel.

• Supplementing with formula is perfectly OK. Some mothers cannot find adequate time to pump or simply cannot produce enough milk to completely nourish Baby with breast milk alone. Don’t give up! Just one drop of breast milk contains one million white blood cells. If your baby gets at least 1 teaspoon of breast milk per day, they will still get the antibody benefits and bacteria-eating cells that are so important to a developing immune system.

• Stay connected to what really matters. Finding answers to your questions can be frustrating. When you look online, less than half of the websites on breastfeeding are accurate. What really matters is the scientific evidence, so look for published research and (preferably) “randomized triple blinded” studies.

In the end, trust your gut, love your baby and take care of yourself. After delivery, your left brain stops working as well, so you may find yourself experiencing more emotions than logic (much like when you were a teenager). Don’t give in to guilt, focus on learning through experience and build that family unit with lots of skin to skin contact.

The content on 30Seconds.com is for informational and entertainment purposes only, and should not be considered medical advice. The information on this site should not be used to diagnose or treat a health problem or disease, and is not a substitute for professional care. Always consult your personal healthcare provider. The opinions or views expressed on 30Seconds.com do not necessarily represent those of 30Seconds or any of its employees, corporate partners or affiliates.

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