Until now, it couldn´t be corroborated about the existence of covid-19 in breast milk, however, you can transmit it to your baby in other ways, through small drops that are spread when speaking, coughing or sneezing if you don’t take the appropriate security measures.
Breast milk includes all nutrients that a newborn baby requires up to six month of age, making it their only food. Among the most important components of breast milk are:
- Fat: in every 100 ml of milk there is approximately 3.5 gr of fat, although the amount the baby receives varies throughout the feeding. The fat of breast milk are important for the baby´s neurological development.
- Carbohydrates: the main one is Lactose, which presence is higher than in other types of milk and it works as energy source.
- Proteins: breast milk contains a minor concentration of proteins than normal milk, which makes it more suitable for babies.
- Vitamins and minerals: breast milk gives the right amount of vitamins
- Immunoglobulins: which are antibodies that will help to protect your baby from diseases.
For all this reasons, breast milk is the best nutrition for the baby and can protect it against many diseases, so while you are a suspected or confirmed case, you can feed your baby with formula until you know the results , or consider about extracting your breast milk.
Below we mention some cares you might have to continue breast feeding your baby, preventing to spread the virus:
- wash your hands with water and soap for at least 30 seconds before touching your baby or any equipment you use for milk.
- clean carefully and disinfect surfaces, bottles and parts of the equipment.
- use face mask and mask if possible while the milk is expressed.
- if possible, allow somebody who is not sick to feed the baby with the milk.
Take the test if you have symptoms or have been at risk of possible contagion, it is necessary to know so that you can start your quarantine. Check with your gynecologist about the alternatives they have for you
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Head of the Operating Room Service