Breastfeeding and Caring for Newborns if You Have COVID-19

We still have much to learn about the risks of COVID-19 to newborns born to people with COVID-19, but we know these facts:

Although the absolute risks are small, pregnant or recently pregnant women are more likely to become seriously ill with COVID-19 than people who are not pregnant. People who contract COVID-19 during pregnancy are also more likely to give birth early and experience stillbirth.
Most newborns of people who have had COVID-19 during pregnancy do not have COVID-19 when they are born.
Some newborns tested positive for COVID-19 shortly after birth. We don't know if these newborns got the virus before, during, or after birth.
Most newborns who tested positive for COVID-19 had mild or no symptoms and recovered. Some newborns reportedly developed severe COVID-19 illness.

Caring for your newborn in the hospital if you have COVID-19

Current evidence suggests that a newborn is unlikely to catch COVID-19 from their birth parent, especially if the parent takes steps (like wearing a mask and washing hands) to prevent spread before and during caregiving prevent the newborn.

Decide whether your newborn will live with you in the hospital.

Talk to your doctor about the risks and benefits of keeping your newborn in the same room with you. Keeping your newborn in your room makes breastfeeding easier and promotes parent-newborn bonding.

Take precautions if your newborn is staying with you in the hospital.

When you're there Isolation for COVID-19 and sharing a room with your newborn, take the following steps to reduce the chance of passing the virus on to your newborn:

Wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds before holding or caring for your newborn. If soap and water are not available, use a hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol.
Wear a well-fitting mask when within 6 feet of your newborn.
Keep your newborn more than 6 feet away from you as much as possible.
Talk to your healthcare provider about ways to protect your newborn, such as: B. by using a physical barrier in the hospital (e.g. placing the newborn in an incubator).

You most likely will not pass the virus on to your newborn or other close contacts after your isolation period is over.

If you have had symptoms, your isolation period will end after:
- 5 days since the first onset of symptoms, and
- 24 hours without fever, without antipyretic drugs, and
- Other symptoms of COVID-19 are improving.
If you have never had symptoms, your isolation period will end afterwards
- 5 days have passed since you tested positive for COVID-19.

Once your isolation period is over You should still wear a mask until day 10. After 10 days, you should still wash your hands before caring for your newborn, but you don't have to take the other precautions. These deadlines do not apply if you have a severely weakened immune system or have been seriously ill with COVID-19. Please read Quarantine and Isolation and consult your doctor when it is safe for you to end your isolation period.

Caring for your newborn at home when you have COVID-19

When you're there Isolation for COVID-19, Until your isolation period is up, take the following precautions:

Stay at home Separating from others outside of your home.
Isolate (keep away from other household members). who are not infected and wear a mask in common areas.
Have your newborn cared for by a healthy caregiver who is up to date with their COVID-19 vaccines and is not at higher risk for serious illness (see recommendations below).
- Follow the recommended precautions if you need to care for your newborn before your isolation period is over.

Recommended precautions for healthy caregivers when caring for newborns:

Caregivers should wash their hands for at least 20 seconds before touching your newborn. If soap and water are not available, they should use a hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol.
If the caregiver lives in the same household or has been in close contact with you, she may have been exposed.
- People who have been in close contact with someone with COVID-19 should be tested for infection:
  - If you develop symptoms, get tested immediately and isolate until you get your test results. If you test positive, follow isolation recommendations.
  - If you don't develop symptoms, get tested at least 5 days after you last had close contact with someone with COVID-19.
  - Self-testing is one of several options for testing for the virus that causes COVID-19 and can be more convenient than lab-based testing and point-of-care testing. Ask your doctor or local health department if you need help interpreting your test results.
Caregivers should wear a mask throughout the time of your isolation and during their own quarantine after you have completed your isolation when within 6ft of your newborn.

If a healthy caregiver is not available, you can care for your newborn if you are well enough.

Wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds before touching your newborn. If soap and water are not available, use a hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol.
Wear a mask throughout your isolation period when within 6ft of your newborn and others. The mask will help prevent you from spreading the virus to others.

Others in your household and caregivers who have COVID-19 should do so isolate and avoid caring for the newborn as much as possible. If they have to care for the newborn, they should follow the hand washing and mask recommendations above.

You most likely will not pass the virus on to your newborn or other close contacts after your isolation period is up.

If you have had symptoms, your isolation period will end after:
- 5 days since the first onset of symptoms, and
- 24 hours without fever without antipyretics, and
- Other symptoms of COVID-19 are improving
If you have never had symptoms, your isolation period will end afterwards
- 5 days have passed since you tested positive for COVID-19.

Monitor your newborn for COVID-19 symptoms.

If your newborn has one or more of these signs or symptoms, they may have early symptoms of COVID-19 or another illness and you should contact your doctor.

Fever (a temperature of 100.4 or higher is considered an emergency)
lethargy (being overly tired or inactive)
Runny nose
to cough
Vomit
diarrhea
Bad feeding
Increased work of breathing or shallow breathing

For more information, visit the CDC webpage on Assessment and Treatment Considerations for Newborns at Risk for COVID-19.

Breastfeeding and COVID-19

Current evidence suggests breast milk is unlikely to transmit the virus to babies.

The COVID-19 vaccination is recommended for people who are pregnant, breastfeeding, planning to become pregnant or may become pregnant in the future. In addition, all beneficiaries, including those who are pregnant, breastfeeding, becoming pregnant or who may become pregnant in the future, should receive a booster shot. You should always wash your hands with soap and water for 20 seconds before breastfeeding or expressing breast milk. even if you don't have COVID-19. If soap and water are not available, use a hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol.

If you have COVID-19 and want to breastfeed:

Wash your hands before breastfeeding
Wear a mask while breastfeeding and whenever you are within 6 feet of your baby.

If you have COVID-19 and choose to express breast milk:

If possible, use your own breast pump (one that you do not share with others).
Wear a mask when expressing breast milk.
Wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds before touching any pump or bottle parts and before expressing breast milk.
Follow recommendations to properly clean the pump after each use. Clean all parts of the pump that come into contact with breast milk.
Consider having a healthy caregiver feed the baby your expressed breast milk. The caregiver should be up to date on their COVID-19 vaccines and should not be at increased risk of serious illness from COVID-19. If the caregiver lives in the same household or has been in close contact with you, she may have been exposed.
- People who have been in close contact with someone with COVID-19 should be tested for infection:
  - If you develop symptoms, get tested immediately and isolate until you get your test results. If you test positive, follow isolation recommendations.
  - If you don't develop symptoms, get tested at least 5 days after you last had close contact with someone with COVID-19.
  - Self-testing is one of several options for testing for the virus that causes COVID-19 and can be more convenient than lab and point-of-care testing. Ask your doctor or local health department if you need help interpreting your test results.
Any caregiver feeding the baby should wear a mask while caring for the baby throughout the time you are in isolation and during their own quarantine period once isolation is complete.