6 Safe Breastfeeding Tips for Covid-19 Positive Mothers, Also Know the Facts

Kapanlagi.com - The importance of breastfeeding for babies can help their growth and development while maintaining a good immune system. Because babies are in a vulnerable age group at risk of health problems because their antibodies have not formed perfectly.

In a pandemic like this, anyone can be at risk of being infected with the covid-19 virus, including breastfeeding mothers. This condition certainly worries mothers who have to breastfeed their babies while they are infected with covid-19.

The worry that the baby will also be infected with the covid-19 virus through the mother's breast milk is the most feared condition. However, it is important for babies to receive their mother's breast milk to ensure their growth and development is maintained.

Seeing this, there are facts about safe breastfeeding tips for mothers who are positive for covid-19 as reviewed below. Because it is known that mothers who are infected with covid-19 can still breastfeed their babies. This happens because there is no evidence or reports that breast milk can transmit virus infections to the baby.

The concern is only if the mother unintentionally or accidentally transmits the covid-19 virus to the baby while breastfeeding due to droplet splashes. This is why there are several strict health protocols that need to be applied by mothers when giving breast milk to their babies.

Here is a review of safe breastfeeding tips for mothers who are positive for covid-19, compiled by kapanlagi.com from various sources.

1. Implement Strict Health Protocols

Safe Breastfeeding Tips for Infected COVID-19 Mothers (credit: freepik.com)

The feeling of worry certainly envelops the feelings of breastfeeding mothers when they find out they are positive for COVID-19. Especially since babies still need breast milk as a source of healthy nutrition to support their growth and maintain good immunity.

However, the World Health Organization (WHO) suggests that mothers who are positive for COVID-19 can still breastfeed their babies. The reason is that there is no evidence of COVID-19 transmission through breast milk from infected mothers.

Nevertheless, prevention is still important and there are several safe breastfeeding tips for mothers who are positive for COVID-19, as discussed below. These safe breastfeeding tips for mothers who are positive for COVID-19 are related to several health protocols that mothers need to follow when breastfeeding their little ones. Let's directly refer to the information on how to safely breastfeed a baby for mothers who are positive for COVID-19.

1. Wash Hands Before Touching the Baby and Providing Breast Milk

A safe breastfeeding tip for mothers who are positive for COVID-19 is to wash hands before touching the baby or providing breast milk. This is done to prevent the risk of COVID-19 transmission when breastfeeding the baby. In addition, make sure that the mother washes properly, using soap and running water to clean hands from viruses or germs.

2. Wear a Mask When Breastfeeding or Being Near the Little One

Just like the benefits of implementing health protocols to prevent the transmission of Covid-19, the use of masks still needs to be applied to mothers when breastfeeding their babies. Especially for mothers who are positive for Covid-19, masks must still be worn even when near the little one.

Now, regarding safe breastfeeding tips for mothers who are positive for Covid-19, the use of masks can minimize the transmission of the virus through droplets. This is why it is important for mothers to wear masks when breastfeeding the little one.

3. Cleaning Surfaces of Objects Touched Frequently by the Mother

The next safe breastfeeding tip for mothers who are positive for Covid-19 is to clean surfaces of objects frequently touched by the mother. This is done to minimize the risk of virus transmission to the little one. Because there may be droplets attached to the surface of objects or places around the mother when breastfeeding her baby. Therefore, mothers can first clean the object as well as the place with disinfectant that will be used to breastfeed the baby.

4. Cleaning the Nipple Area Before Breastfeeding

A safe way to breastfeed a baby for mothers who are positive for COVID-19 is to clean the nipple area or the surrounding skin before giving breast milk to the baby. This is done to prevent the risk of bacteria or viruses sticking to the skin surface before breastfeeding.

2. Using Breast Pump - Alternative to Formula Milk

Safe Breastfeeding Tips for Babies (credit: freepik.com)

The next safe breastfeeding tips for mothers who are positive for COVID-19 infection are to use a breast pump or alternative to provide formula milk. The following is an explanation of how to safely breastfeed a baby for mothers who are positive for COVID-19.

5. Using a Breast Pump

The use of a breast pump can be chosen as a safe way to breastfeed a baby when the mother is infected with COVID-19. The use of a breast pump can be utilized if the mother is unable to directly breastfeed her baby when she is newly infected with COVID-19. However, make sure that the breast pump is thoroughly clean and the bottle used is also clean.

6. Providing Formula Milk

Another safe breastfeeding tip for mothers who are positive for COVID-19 is to use an alternative formula milk. This method can be chosen if the mother is truly unable to provide breast milk for her baby when infected with COVID-19. The involvement of other family members is crucial in helping the mother breastfeed the baby using formula milk or a breast milk bottle.

3. Facts About Breastfeeding Babies When Mother is Positive for Covid-19

Safe Breastfeeding Tips for Babies (credit: freepik.com)

As mentioned in the previous review, there are several facts about breastfeeding babies when the mother is positive for Covid-19. These facts are related to the question of whether a breastfeeding mother who is positive for Covid-19 can still provide breast milk to her child. Here are some key points summarizing the facts about breastfeeding babies when the mother is positive for Covid-19.

- Breastfeeding mothers confirmed positive for Covid-19 are still important in providing breast milk to their children as recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO).

- The benefits of breastfeeding are much greater than the risk of transmission.

- There is no evidence of Covid-19 virus transmission through breast milk from positive mothers.

- The risk of transmission can occur if, while breastfeeding, the baby is exposed to droplets from a positive mother who is not following strict health protocols.

4. The Benefits of Breastfeeding for Babies

Safe Breastfeeding Tips for Babies (credit: freepik.com)

After knowing some safe breastfeeding tips for mothers who are positive for COVID-19, there are many important benefits of breastfeeding for babies that mothers should be aware of. That is why breastfeeding is still important even if the mother is infected with COVID-19. The benefits of breastfeeding for babies are as follows:

- Boosting the child's immune system.

- Protecting the child's health from diseases or viral infections.

- Providing important nutrition for the child's growth and development.

- Enhancing the child's intelligence.

- Maintaining a healthy weight for the child and preventing obesity.

- Promoting the child's cognitive development.

Those are the 6 safe breastfeeding tips for mothers who are positive for COVID-19. To get safe advice regarding breastfeeding for mothers confirmed positive for COVID-19, consulting a doctor is still necessary to prevent transmission risks.

Sources: alodokter.com, hellosehat.com, halodoc.com

(kpl/nlw)