Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
Review
. 2022 Jul 8:20:eRW6609.
doi: 10.31744/einstein_journal/2022RW6609. eCollection 2022.

Breastfeeding during the COVID-19 pandemic: what do we know so far?

Taison Regis Penariol Natarelli  1 , Heloisa Gasparini Marigheti Brassarola  1 , Luciana Mara Monti Fonseca  1
Affiliations
Review

Breastfeeding during the COVID-19 pandemic: what do we know so far?

Taison Regis Penariol Natarelli et al. Einstein (Sao Paulo). .

Abstract

Objective: This study aimed to conduct a literature review on safety in breastfeeding in mothers with COVID-19. An integrative review of national and international literature was carried out.

Methods: The search took place in the SciELO, LILACS and MEDLINE® databases.

Results: A total of 25 scientific articles that specifically addressed the theme of breastfeeding and its risk and protective factors for infection by SARS-CoV-2 were selected. According to the studies analyzed, although the presence of viral RNA had already been detected by reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction in breast milk samples, there are still no proven cases of vertical transmission via human milk.

Conclusion: Breastfeeding appears to be safe if practiced according to precaution measures recommended by the World Health Organization. In addition, there is evidence of a potential for immunological protection by transfer of antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 in breast milk. Breastfeeding should continue to be promoted even in cases of mothers with clinical suspicion or confirmation of COVID-19, as well as the provision of expressed breast milk in cases where there is no possibility of direct breastfeeding.

PubMed Disclaimer

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1. Selection of studies
See this image and copyright information in PMC

Similar articles

See all similar articles

Cited by

References

    1. São Paulo (Estado). Secretaria de Estado da Saúde. Coordenadoria de Controle de Doenças. Plano de Contingência do Estado de São Paulo para Infecção Humana pelo novo Coronavírus - 2019 nCoV. São Paulo: COE-nCov/SP; 2020 [citado 2021 Fev 1]. Disponível em: http://www.cosemssp.org.br/noticias/plano-de-contingencia-do-estado-de-s...
    1. World Health Organization (WHO). Global strategy for infant and young child feeding. Geneva: WHO; 2003 [cited 2021 May 26]. Available from: https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9241562218
    1. Brasil. Ministério da Saúde. Secretaria de Atenção Primária à Saúde. Departamento de Ações Programáticas Estratégicas. Coordenação-Geral de Ciclos da Vida. Coordenação de Saúde da Criança e Aleitamento Materno. Nota Técnica nº 14/2020-COCAM/ CGCIVI/DAPES/SAPS/MS. Atenção à Saúde do Recém-nascido no contexto da Infecção pelo novo Coronavírus (SARS-CoV-2). Brasília (DF): Ministério da Saúde; 2020 [citado 2021 Fev 1]. Disponível em: https://portaldeboaspraticas.iff.fiocruz.br/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/2...
    1. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Interim considerations for infection prevention and control of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in inpatient obstetric healthcare settings. Atlanta (GA): CDC; 2020 [cited 2021 Mar 12]. Available from: https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/85196.
    1. Wang L, Shi Y, Xiao T, Fu J, Feng X, Mu D, Feng Q, Hei M, Hu X, Li Z, Lu G, Tang Z, Wang Y, Wang C, Xia S, Xu J, Yang Y, Yang J, Zeng M, Zheng J, Zhou W, Zhou X, Zhou X, Du L, Lee SK, Zhou W; Working Committee on Perinatal and Neonatal Management for the Prevention and Control of the 2019 Novel Coronavirus Infection. Chinese expert consensus on the perinatal and neonatal management for the prevention and control of the 2019 novel coronavirus infection (First edition). Ann Transl Med. 2020;8(3):47. Review. - PMC - PubMed