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Corona and breastfeeding: Can the virus pass to the baby through the milk?

The raging global epidemic brings with it new causes for concern for pregnant and lactating women. On the occasion of Breastfeeding Awareness Week, we contacted a breastfeeding consultant with some of the most burning questions of breastfeeding women

• nursing
• Birth
• Corona

Walla! health

In the video: Corona patient gives birth to a baby at Poria Hospital in Tiberias

This week marks World Awareness and Breastfeeding Awareness Week and it's a great time to answer some of the burning questions that breastfeeding women face in these bizarre days of the global corona epidemic. Can the virus pass to the baby through breast milk? Should the breast be disinfected before breastfeeding? And what about the general stress we all experience and experience in these troubling days - could it harm breastfeeding or milk production in any way?

To put all these questions in order, we turned to Esther Suissa, a breastfeeding consultant at Beilinson Women's Hospital, for comprehensive and professional answers:

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Does covid-19 pass through breast milk?
The medical world is still studying the corona virus and every day new studies on the subject appear. To date, no evidence has been found that the virus is present in breast milk, so it is probably not transmitted during breastfeeding. However, breastfeeding is a close contact that may transmit the virus upon exposure to airway secretions or contact.

According to Ministry of Health guidelines, a woman can continue to breastfeed her baby as long as no symptoms appear. Frequent hand hygiene should be maintained, especially before breastfeeding and any contact with the baby, as well as wearing a mask while breastfeeding or pumping. In order to reduce the chances of transmitting the virus in respiratory or contact secretions. It is also recommended to make sure to clean surfaces and toys that come in contact with the baby.

Can stress affect breastfeeding and milk production?
During periods of stress and anxiety the process of milk production is not impaired, however it may have a temporary effect on the release of milk production. The breast may stop releasing milk during panic, but only for a few minutes. We encourage women to share their feelings, whether the environment close to them or professionals such as a pregnancy follow-up nurse who conducts home visits after childbirth, who can support and refer for further follow-up if necessary. It is important for women to be aware of the symptoms of stress and anxiety such as dry mouth, tremors in the body, sleep and eating disorders, loss of interest in activities that were previously loved and turned to help if necessary.

Everyone is talking about hygiene during this period, is it necessary to prepare the breast in a special way for breastfeeding?
Hand hygiene is known to be the most important action in preventing and transmitting various diseases. During breastfeeding, the baby receives the mother's milk as well as the bacterial population that is on the mother's body and especially in the chest area. These are bacteria that are part of the microbiome population (the population of microorganisms found in the body). These unique bacteria make an important contribution to preventing disease and increasing the immunity of the breastfed baby. So there is no need to prepare the breast for breastfeeding, or rinse it before breastfeeding. It is recommended to maintain basic hygiene of our body and avoid using body lotion or soap directly on the nipple during the first period of breastfeeding.

I clean my hands with alcohol before breastfeeding, is it safe for the baby?
Alcohol like many similar preparations that contain alcohol is a preparation for cleaning and disinfecting hands without water. There is no prevention for a breastfeeding woman to use an alcohol preparation for rapid disinfection of the hands. When possible, it is recommended to wash your hands with soap and water to remove dirt, but when it is not possible to wash your hands, various alcoholic disinfectants are an excellent solution for disinfecting and removing contaminants from your hands. The smell of the alcohol does not bother the baby.

Is it allowed to dye the hair or do a hair straightening while breastfeeding?
As a breastfeeding consultant I hear many stories from women who avoid dyeing their hair during pregnancy for fear of exposing the fetus to harmful and chemical substances found in hair dyes. The coloring is external, a complete minority of the chemicals are absorbed if at all, and there is no prevention from coloring the hair during pregnancy, what is more, today the different hair colors allow safe coloring. Regarding straightening - the guidelines of the Ministry of Health say that as long as the ingredients are ingredients approved by them, and the beauty salon / hairdresser is a well-known institute used with approved ingredients, there is no prevention from straightening hair during breastfeeding. If cultivation gives you satisfaction and pleasure, continue with it.

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Can a hot day cause milk to spoil?
I am often asked on these hot days if there are any problems with breastfeeding on hot days like in August in Israel. Breast milk is produced and adapted to the newborn perfectly, and even on a hot day and a humid August like today, there is no harm to the quality of the milk and its ingredients. Can be breastfed without any prevention. However, it is recommended that the breastfeeding mother drink plenty of water until it is full.