Category: Breastfeeding And Safe Infant Feeding Educational Resources

Nurses Talk About Delivering, Feeding, And Caring For Babies Following The AAP Guidelines When A Mother Is infected With The COVID-19 Virus

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We know everyone’s anxiety level is very high right now because of the uncertainly of delivering your baby during the COVID-19 pandemic. Our goal is to provide real-life experiences of nurses who are taking care of people in labor and postpartum so that parents can have an idea of what to expect when delivering their babies.

The most recent guidelines released by the AAP, CDC, and ACOG apply to babies in the U.S.A.

Since these guidelines are different from the WHO guidelines and parents have been receiving mixed messages and are asking for clarification. We want to clarify the recommendations for parents so they can be fully informed of their choices. Generally speaking, parents who live in developed countries such as the USA have access to breast pumps, clean water, masks, cleaning supplies, and formula. The science-based recommendations are based on these choices.

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Guidelines for Pregnant and Breastfeeding Mothers During the Coronavirus Pandemic

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Photo Credit: Shutter Stock

By the Fed is Best Foundation Health Professional Team

We have summarized the current recommendations by the Centers for Disease Control  for Pregnant and Breastfeeding Mothers in the wake of the Coronavirus Pandemic (COVID-19). The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists have also endorsed the CDC recommendations. This information is intended to inform health care professionals and pregnant mothers who are confirmed positive for COVID-19 or persons under investigation (PUI) for COVID-19 in the hospital and postpartum settings.

The symptoms of coronavirus for pregnant and lactating mothers and infants are the same as those of the general population, which include but are not limited to:

  • Fever 
  • Cough
  • Shortness of Breath
  • Fatigue
  • Poor appetite
  • Sputum production 
  • Body aches

The United States is currently has the highest number of coronavirus cases in the world, particularly in New York, New Jersey, California and Washington State. See the current world distribution of Coronavirus cases here. Continue reading →

Relactation: A Science Based How To Guide

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by Jody Segrave-Daly, RN, IBCLC and Lynnette Hafken, MA, IBCLC

Our goal is to ensure you have the accurate information you need for the best chance of success, with adequate attention to your mental and physical health and well being.

Before you start, it is important to manage your expectations. The limited research we have shows that while most mothers can produce some milk, developing a full milk supply is often not the case, especially under these very stressful pandemic circumstances. Please be very gentle to yourself throughout the process, because all sorts of feelings can come up. This study talks about those feelings. 

In considering relactation, mothers need to consider the big picture.  There are cons…:
  • time spent pumping that takes time away from other important things, such as interaction with baby, sleep, and caring for other children
  • less free time for mom, which is important for mood and stress levels
  • potentially disappointing results
  • mental health considerations 
…as well as pros:
  • another source of milk for the baby
  • passive immunity from breast milk*
  • for mothers who enjoyed breastfeeding, an additional way to spend more one-on-one time with baby
  • feeling a sense of agency in a time when we have little control over our lives

*Since COVID-19 is caused by a novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2), no one has antibodies to prevent infection unless they have either been exposed to it or recovered from it. Once a mother is exposed and starts developing antibodies, it takes around two weeks to build up antibodies to have a clinical impact as passive immunity protection.   Continue reading →

Will Breast Milk Protect My Baby From Getting Sick? Passive Immunity 101

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Written by Jody Segrave-Daly MS, RN, IBCLC

As a veteran neonatal nurse and lactation consultant, parents often ask me how the antibodies found in breast/human milk work to protect their babies. Published research on immunology is highly technical and difficult to understand, and unfortunately, the readily available information (especially on social media) contains a lot of false and conflicting information. So, I’m here to share evidence-based information about this important topic in a way that is easier for most parents to understand.

How does the immune system work?

Our immune system is very complex, but generally speaking; it is responsible for fighting off both germs that enter our bodies from our environment and also for protecting us from diseases like cancer that occur within our bodies. I will be focusing on how the immune system fights off germs, which it does by producing antibodies.

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Mothers Describe Their Triple Feeding Experiences and The Impact It had On Their Mental and Physical Health

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Written by Jody Segrave-Daly, RN, IBCLC and Lynnette Hafken, MA, IBCLC

 What is “triple feeding?” 

Mothers who triple feed will feed their babies at the breast, immediately pump and deliver any expressed milk (and/or formula supplement) through a bottle or sometimes even a syringe to the infant.  

Triple feeding originated in the NICU for premature infants who were learning to breastfeed but were unable to empty the breast completely. In order to preserve or increase the milk supply, the breasts were pumped after nursing and the milk was saved for the next supplemental feeding. In this way, the premature baby was nurtured until he or she was strong enough to only nurse from the breast. This was sustainable because the parent has access to nurses and lactation professionals to assist her during the triple feeding cycle.

For full-term babies with ineffective milk removal or moms with low milk supplies, the triple feeding cycle at home is recommended by some lactation consultants.   Continue reading →