Breastfeeding is particularly effective against infectious diseases because it strengthens the immune system by directly transferring antibodies from the mother. As with all confirmed or suspected COVID-19 cases, mothers with any symptoms who are breastfeeding or practicing skin-to-skin contact should take precautions. video link:- https://youtu.be/Y2wlyZgoD_c YOUTUBE CHANNEL LINK :- https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=medic+o+mania

1. Breastfeeding and
COVID-19

2. WHY BREASTFEEDING IS IMPORTANT??
Mother and child both benefit from breastfeeding
Child can be prevented from several diseases as
breast-milk develops antibody which prevents
them from diseases

3. The Child will have less Chances of Undernourished
Child would be Prevented from Obesity and other
Non Communicable Diseases during Adulthood
The mother will have lesser Chance of Ovarian
Cancer and Breast Cancer
After Delivery, the Mother’s Uterus would be
Contracted and Bleeding will be controlled. As a
result the mother will have lesser chance of
becoming anaemic

4. Exclusive breastfeeding also delays in next
pregnancy.
Exclusive breastfeeding means that the infant
receives only breast milk. No other liquids or
solids are given – not even water – with the
exception of oral rehydration solution, or
drops/syrups of vitamins, minerals or medicines
Babies who are breastfed exclusively for the first 6 months,
without any formula, have fewer Ear Infections, Respiratory
Illnesses, and bouts of Diarrhea.
Breastfeeding lowers your Baby's risk
of having Asthma or Allergies

5. RESULT OF INADEQUATE BRESTFEEDING:INDIA(ANNUALLY)
PREVENTABLE CHILD DEATH
100,000

6. Soon after Birth, If the child breastfed within an hour
of birth
What is the right time to start breastfeeding?
 The body temperature of the child would be
controlled
 A loving relationship has been developed
among mother and child
 It will helps in production and secretion of
breast-milk.

7. Is early initiation of Breastfeeding Possible if the mother
undergone caesarian delivery?
BF in Caesarean section can be initiated immediately after birth and as soon as the
mother regains consciousness,
if CS done under General
Anesthesia. Baby should be put
to her breast for feeding with
some other persons’ support.
Caesarean section is mostly conducted under
spinal anesthesia. In That mother remains
conscious, therefore breastfeeding could be
started at OT table only.

9. Colostrum, a nutrient-rich fluid produced by female immediately after giving birth, it
is loaded with immune, growth and tissue repair factors. It is a complex biological
fluid, which helps in the Development of Immunity in the Newborn.
WHAT TO DO WITH THE COLOSTRUM
(THE INITIAL MILK SECRETED BY THE MOTHER)
 It is also known as First Vaccine to the
baby
 Breast secrets Colostrum only for Initial
3–4 days
 In India, it is a common custom to
give Honey to the Baby. However, research
suggests that it is not a safe practice. It can
cause Infantile Botulism and Botulism
Toxicity in the New Born Babies.

10. Whether the mother should continue breastfeeding or not
In case the child is suffering from fever, cough, cold,
diarrhea etc.
Yes!!, Even the mother should increase the frequency of breastfeeding.
If the child is above 6 months of age, Child may not take normal food due to illness. Therefore, Mother
needs to Increase Frequency of Breastfeeding and try to feed easily Digestible food.
Due to diarrhea, more water is needed in
the body where breastfeeding mitigate
the gap.
Due to cough and fever, the child may
not complete the feed at a time; hence,
frequency should be increased.

11. The Baby develops Antibody through breast-milk against that specific infection
of the mother, And also protects the baby from any disease or infection.
There is a high risk of getting infection if given formula milk or other animal’s
milk.
Can Mother feed the Baby if she is Suffering from Fever,
Cough, Cold, Diarrhea, Suspect or confirmed case of
COVID-19
Yes!!, Mother should continue breastfeeding in these minor ailments.

12. The WHO recommends breastfeeding for all mothers irrespective of their
COVID-19 status
Suspected/confirmed Without COVID-19
With COVID-19

13. If the Mother is Infected or Suspected from COVID 19, should she
maintaining skin to skin contact with the new-born?
Yes!!!
Because it
helps in..
 but at they same time mother should take preventive measures especially while
breast feeding to prevent contact transmission between COVID-19 suspect or
confirmed mothers and their newborns/young infants

14. DOES COVID-19 PRESENT IN BREAST MILK?
ACCORDING TO A SCIENTIFIC REVIEW,
Breastmilk samples tested for COVID-19(RT PCR) 46 mother infant dyads
46 mother COVID-19 +ve
13 infants COVID-19 +ve
Milk sample 43 samples negative 3 samples positive for viral RNA
particles (not live virus)
1 infant =ve 2 infant -ve
“Breast milk is potentially important source of
antibody protection for infants of mothers with
COVID -19.
When and how the antibodies to COVID-19
are produced and its transfer to the neonate is
yet to be answered”

15. ACC. TO WHO COVID-19 DOES NOT TRANSMIT THROUGH
BREASTMILK

16.  Secretory immunoglobulin A (sIgA) immune response against the COVID-19 virus
found in 12 of 15 breastmilk samples
 In infants the risk of COVID-19
Infection is very low, the infection is
typically mild or asymptomatic
 Whereas the consequences of NOT
breastfeeding and separation
between mother and child can be
significant.

17. In case a Mother is unable to breastfeed due to sickness or any
medical emergency; what she should do?
Breastmilk can be expressed
in any clean utensil and could
be stored in fridge for next 24
hours

18. Can the Baby fed through a bottle, if the bottle cleans properly?
Child also get confused
between bottle and breast
INFECTION
Promotion and distribution of commercial baby
foods and feeding bottles during COVID-19 is
harmful for the children
It is safer to use cup and
spoon to feed the
expressed breastmilk
Decrease milk
production

19. How long the mother should continue ‘Exclusive Breastfeeding’?
Up to 6 months of age
Newborn babies should breastfeed 8–12
times per day the first month. Breast milk is easily
digested, so newborns are hungry often By the
time your baby is 1–2 months old, he or she
probably will nurse 7–9 times a day.

20. Up to which age the child should be continued breastfeeding?
Years or Beyond

21. When complementary feeding should start?
After completion of
6 months (180days)

22. Who is responsible for continuing breastfeeding? Only
mothers?
Mother ,other family members and health care workers

23. WHAT ARE SOME SIGNS THAT MY BABY MIGHT NOT BE
GETTING ENOUGH MILK?
 Baby seems very sleepy or lethargic.
 Baby takes too little or too much time at the breast.
 Latching is painful or appears shallow.
 Baby hasn’t regained their birth weight by 10-14 days old
 Baby is not stooling often (they should have 3-4 stools per day by four
days old).
 Baby’s urine is not pale, and/or you see reddish-brown “brick dust” in the
diaper