Though there are a lot of inventive breast milk storage solutions, hacks, and even tips for freezing breast milk that have been shared online by moms just like you, the most important detail to remember when getting creative is to always follow CDC guidelines for storing, freezing, and feeding your breast milk. Following these guidelines protects the nutrients in your breast milk and keeps it safe for your baby’s consumption. For healthy-term babies, this means that freshly pumped breast milk can be safely stored:

• At room temperature (60 – 77 degrees Fahrenheit) for up to 4 hours

• In the refrigerator (at 39 degrees Fahrenheit or cooler) for up to 3 days

• Or in your freezer (at 0 degrees Fahrenheit or colder) for up to 6 months

When preparing frozen breast milk, it should be thawed at room temperature for up to 2 hours or in the refrigerator for up to 24 hours. To avoid contamination and damaging all the great proteins, nutrients, and other ingredients in your breast milk, thawed milk should also never be refrozen. Be sure to measure your frozen breast milk precisely so none of that nourishing liquid gold is wasted! 

Tips for Freezing Breast Milk and Other Breast Milk Storage Solutions

Pumping and storing your breast milk can often require more space in your refrigerator and freezer than you may expect, particularly if you are a first-time parent – using bottles for both storing and feeding means having a ton of bottles on hand and a lot of room for cold storage available. That’s why we recommend using Breast Milk Storage Bags or Pump & Save breast milk bags for a more affordable and space-saving solution when storing your stash (when compared to storing using bottles). Additionally, having an organized system in place that tells you what milk was pumped when, and how soon it needs to be used, is essential for making the most of your pumping sessions while helping to make feedings more efficient. Here are just a few clever breast milk storage solutions that have proven successful for other pumping and breast milk feeding mamas:

• Use an Empty Soda Box or Diaper Box

  • Pump directly into your breast milk storage bags, or pour your pumped milk into breast milk storage bags. After carefully sealing your bags, use a marker to label each bag with the date (and time, if desired) and the volume of pumped breast milk.

  • If freezing: Place the filled breast milk storage bags flat in your freezer. Once frozen, stand your breast milk storage bags vertically in an empty 12-can soda box with the top removed. You can arrange based on date or amount of milk, so you can easily grab and go as needed for feeding (bonus tip: this also makes feeding easier for others too – like a partner, grandparent, nanny, or caregiver!)

  • If refrigerating: Stand your breast milk storage bags vertically in an empty 12-can soda box with the top removed and arrange as desired, whether based on date, volume of milk, or any other important category.

  • Instead of an empty 12-can soda box, you can also repurpose an empty diaper box (you’ll have plenty of those!) with the top removed or utilize plastic bins, boxes, or storage racks. Target, Staples, The Container Store, and similar places often carry compact storage containers that can fit nicely in a refrigerator or freezer.

• Claim a Dedicated Cold Storage Drawer

  • Having a specific drawer in your fridge or freezer for your breast milk makes it easy to grab and go as needed. You can divide the drawer into areas categorized by date or volume, or use a storage rack or empty box to neatly organize breast milk storage bags standing up or side by side.

• Categorize Using Large, Zippered Freezer Bags or Reuse Gift Bags

  • Pump directly into your breast milk storage bags, or pour your pumped milk into breast milk storage bags. After sealing your bags, don’t forget to label each one with the date and amount of pumped breast milk.

  • If freezing: Place your breast milk storage bags flat in the freezer. After your milk is frozen, stand your breast milk storage bags upright in large, gallon-sized freezer bags that zip. You can then label or organize each large freezer bag as desired, whether by date or total amount of breast milk. You may also want to jot down how many breast milk storage bags are inside and by what date all bags must be used, so you know exactly where to pull from first.

  • If refrigerating: Stand your breast milk storage bags upright in large freezer bags that zip and group, label, or organize as desired.

  • Instead of using gallon-sized, zippered freezer bags, some moms use fun and colorful gift bags by cutting out a small section of the side panel at the bottom of the bag for easy grabbing from the fridge or freezer when needed. Breast milk that should be used sooner can be placed on its side at the bottom of the gift bag to ensure it’s grabbed first, while freshly pumped milk can go at the top of the stack and eventually make its way down.

Use the Breast Milk Storage Solutions that Work and Keep Your Milk Safe for Your Baby

These creative breast milk storage solutions can enhance your overall pumping and feeding experience by maximizing available space while keeping your liquid gold organized and ready to use. However, the most important storing, freezing, and feeding system is the one that works best for you and keeps your little one happy, healthy, and full. Whether you have just begun pumping and storing breast milk or you’re practically a pro, you’ll continue to get the hang of it and may even discover your own tricks and hacks for efficient storing and freezing! Share your tips with other Medela moms in our Facebook or Instagram communities, or replenish your breast milk feeding accessories and supplies here. No matter how long or short your breastfeeding journey may be, know that you are doing a wonderful job and every little bit goes a long way.

See our easy infographic below for a quick refresher or download a copy in English or Spanish to print and keep on hand whenever needed:

The post Creative Breast Milk Storage Solutions That Work appeared first on Medela South Africa.

“The findings from our research are incredibly relevant as we actively work to stop the spread of this unprecedented virus,” said Dr. Rebecca Powell, study coauthor. 

The recent study was conducted using milk samples transported to Dr. Powell’s team at Mount Sinai with support from Medela and Milk Stork, who partnered to provide human breast milk shipping services for the study. The team at Mount Sinai compared milk samples prior to and during the pandemic to assess them for various classes of antibodies and antibody function. Findings revealed that 95% of pandemic samples from COVID-19-recovered donors had SARS-CoV-2-specific sIgA activity, and 75% of samples were also positive for specific IgG. All milk samples from COVID-19-recovered donors with significant levels of sIgA also exhibited robust SARS-CoV-2 neutralization capacity. Importantly, in all milk samples, the specific sIgA persisted as long as 7-10 months after infection.

Medela and Milk Stork provided logistical and financial support for this research. 

About Medela:
Through advancing research, observing natural behavior and listening to our customers, Medela turns science into care while nurturing health for generations. Medela supports millions of moms, babies, patients and healthcare professionals in more than 100 countries all over the world.  As the healthcare choice for more than 6 million hospitals and homes across the globe, Medela, the #1 breast pump brand*+, provides the leading research-based breast milk feeding and baby products, healthcare solutions for hospitals, and clinical education. Medela is dedicated to building better health outcomes, simplifying and improving life, and developing breakthroughs that help moms, babies and patients live their life to the fullest. 
 
About Milk Stork:
Milk Stork was launched in August 2015 as the first-ever breast milk shipping company for moms who needed a simple solution for getting their breast milk to their babies back home. Working mom made, and made for working moms, Milk Stork supports more than 749 corporate partners who provide the service to their employees as an employee benefit, including Hilton, SAP, Pinterest, Nissan, and Home Depot. In February 2019, Milk Stork was awarded Fast Company’s Most Innovative Companies Award in the Travel category for its unparalleled commitment to supporting working, traveling moms. In May 2020, Milk Stork launched its MotherShop, a curated collection of innovative and unique parenting essentials that were created by moms with moms in mind. For more information on Milk Stork, visit www.milkstork.com and follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

*Voted most trusted breast pump brand by United States and Canadian shoppers based on the 2020 BrandSpark^® American and Canadian Trust Studies
+IQVIA ProVoice Survey; September 2019 – August 2020.
 

Recommended for you

For more the information on COVID-19, breastmilk, vaccines and antibodies please visit research on vaccine and antibodies.

The post New research shows human milk contains long-lasting, potent antibodies against COVID-19 appeared first on Medela South Africa.

On the science front, Medela is directly supporting urgent and pioneering research to investigate the behaviour of the virus with respect to human milk, in particular to confirm early findings that the virus is not present in milk, and to determine if and when maternal antibodies to the virus can be found in breast milk. According to UNICEF, breastfeeding is the safest, most reliable method of infant feeding, especially in an emergency. In addition to being the best source of nutrition for newborns and infants, breast milk also provides dynamic immunologic protection. It contains live cells that change in amount according to the maternal and infant health circumstances and over the lactation journey. In relation to COVID-19 is the immunologic protection provided by breastmilk via the antibodies the mom’s body produces to fight infections, which can then be passed to her baby through breast milk.

As a research-driven company, it is our responsibility to support research projects in this area. “This research is critical at the moment and as such we didn’t hesitate to support these research projects, being conducted at the University of California in San Diego and the University of Idaho, with a donation of milk collection kits and equipment”, says Dr Leon Mitoulas, Head of Medical Research at Medela, who has been coordinating with the researchers in the US.

Both research programmes have asked for product support to collect milk samples necessary for the studies to address the lack of knowledge about breast milk, breastfeeding and COVID-19. Prof. Tina Chambers at the Mommy’s Milk Human Milk Research Biorepository in collaboration with Prof. Lars Bode at the FLRF Mother-Milk-Infant Center of Research Excellence, both at the University of California, San Diego, will focus on whether or not the virus is present in breast milk, and will examine breast milk for potential antiviral properties with respect to COVID-19. “We’re collecting and analyzing a larger number of samples than have been reported in the scientific literature to date. Hopefully, the results of our study can be used to provide reassurance to women that breastfeeding with COVID-19 infection doesn’t pose a risk”, said Chambers, a perinatal epidemiologist and professor of pediatrics at UC San Diego. “We are so thankful for Medela’s generosity in supporting our efforts to answer these urgent questions.”

In further research, led by Prof. Michelle McGuire at the University of Idaho, human milk from COVID-19 positive, breastfeeding mothers will be investigated to determine if the virus is present in human milk in order to identify any antibodies to the virus and to reinforce WHO and CDC breastfeeding recommendations.

Within days, the researchers had Medela’s firm commitment to provide the necessary equipment – breast pumps, milk storage bags, and sterilisation bags. Medela’s rapid and informed response reflects our longstanding ties to the research community and our mission to ensure the well-being of mother and child.

Note: UNICEF, the Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine, the CDC and WHO state that considering the benefits of breastfeeding and the insignificant role of breast milk in the transmission of other respiratory viruses, the mother can continue breastfeeding, while applying all necessary precautions, e.g. to avoid droplet infection while breastfeeding.

Recommended for you

For latest information on COVID-19 and it’s impact on breast milk please visit research on COVID-19.

The post COVID-19: Support of research projects on breast milk and antibodies appeared first on Medela South Africa.

Thursday, 16 July 2020

This presentation will outline the basic immunologic components of human milk, specifically those related to defending breastfed infants and children against infection. We will then dive deeper into what is known about the milk antibody response to various infections, including the origin of these antibodies, their function, and how they differ from those found in blood, as well as discuss what has yet to be fully understood in this research field. Next, our early findings regarding the antibody response in milk to SARS-CoV-2 following recovery from COVID-19  will be presented, including the range of responses in our cohort, the types of antibodies present in milk, and the levels of each antibody type. Finally we will discuss the possible functions and protective mechanisms of this antibody response in the context of protecting breastfed infants and children, and the potential for extracting these antibodies from donor milk as a COVID-19 therapeutic.

Objectives:

• To learn about the basic immunological components of human milk
• To understand the antibody response to infection in human milk and how this differs from the systemic response
• To learn about the emerging data regarding the antibody response against COVID-19 in human milk

Presenter

Assistant Professor Rebecca Powell, PhD

Dr Rebecca Powell is an Assistant Professor of Medicine and Infectious Diseases at Mount Sinai’s Icahn School of Medicine. She studies the immune properties of human milk. Dr Powell received her Bachelor’s degree at the University of Toronto and her Ph. D. in Microbiology at the Sackler Institute of Graduate Biomedical Sciences, New York University School of Medicine. Her graduate work focused on HIV genetic diversity, detection and frequency of dual HIV infections, and the impact of these infections on viral recombination and the humoral immune response. She developed a low-cost method to rapidly detect dual HIV-1 infection. Dr Powell’s early post-doctoral research at the International AIDS Vaccine Initiative (IAVI) Design and Development Lab (DDL), as well as her early research at the Icahn School of Medicine, focused on HIV-1 vaccines. She studied the contribution of  antibody-dependent cellular phagocytosis by breast milk leukocytes to the relatively low rate of HIV transmission to infants breastfed by HIV-infected mothers. At present, her lab is hoping to pin down whether breast milk has antibodies specific to COVID-19, whether they might protect babies from COVID-19, and ultimately, whether they can be spun into a therapy against the illness for adults.

Event Details

Date:

• 9 July 2020

Duration:

• 1 hour

Time: 

• 07:00 – 08:00, PDT, San Francisco
• 09:00 – 10:00, CT, Chicago IL
• 10:00 – 11:00, EDT, New York
• 15:00 – 16:00, BST, London
• 16:00 – 17:00, CEST, Berlin
• 17:00 – 18:00, MSK, Moscow
• 18:00 – 19:00, GST, Dubai
• 19:30 – 20:30, IST, Mumbai

This webinar is fee of charge

The post Evidence of a strong and specific antibody response against SARS-CoV-2 in human milk appeared first on Medela South Africa.

Thursday, 8 October 2020

Abstract and objectives:

Since the outbreak of COVID-19, many put their hopes in the rapid development of effective immunisations. For now, patient isolation, physical distancing and good hygiene are the sole measures for prevention. Processed breast milk with antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 may serve as additional protection.This presentation will discuss the research recently published.

A variety of antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 is present in breast milk from mothers who have recovered from COVID-19, with no such antibodies present in breast milk obtained from the controls. Breast milk of mothers who were previously infected with SARS-CoV-2 contains significant amounts of IgA against SARS-CoV-2 and these antibodies are present in breast milk even 3 months following the onset of clinical symptoms.

These antibodies are capable of neutralising a clinical isolate of SARS-CoV-2 in vitro. Although after pasteurisation of the milk anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies were detected with two methods of pasteurisation, the virus-neutralising capacity of those antibodies was only retained with the High Pressure Pasteurisation (HPP) approach, and not with Holder Pasteurisation (HoP). The reduction in overall IgA concentration was greater in HoP than HPP milk, with High pressure pasteurisation hardly affecting antibody levels and efficacy.

Learning objectives:

• Human milk contains antibodies against various pathogens, resulting in a lower incidence of infectious diseases in breastfed infants when compared to formula fed infants
• Antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 are present in human milk obtained from mothers who recovered from COVID 19
• Antibodies are present even 3 months following the onset of clinical symptoms

Presenter

Prof. Dr. J. (Hans) B. van Goudoever, MD, PhD

Hans van Goudoever is professor of paediatrics at the University of Amsterdam and the Free University. He performed research for his PhD on Nitrogen metabolism in preterm infants. In subsequent years, he worked in the lab of the late Peter Reeds, Clinical Nutrition Research Center, Texas Children’s, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA, as a post doc. Intestinal amino acid metabolism in a piglet model revealed novel insights in nutritional management of preterm infants. Returning to Rotterdam in 2000, he was trained as neonatologist and became professor and chair of neonatology in 2004.

In 2010, he moved to Amsterdam to take the chair of the two paediatric departments in the capital, and merged those into one Emma Children’s Hospital. He served in many international councils, including European Society Pediatric Research, International Pediatric Research Foundation, European Society for Pediatric Gastroenterology Hepatology & Nutrition and was chair of the Committee of Nutrition. He was appointed by his royal majesty as member of the national Health Council in 2014. He founded the Dutch National Donor Milk Bank in 2011 and serves as the director. Hans van Goudoever published approximately 350 peer reviewed articles, predominantly on neonatal nutrition and metabolism.

Event Details

Date:

• 8 October 2020

Duration:

• 1 hour

Time: 

• 07:00 – 08:00, PDT, San Francisco
• 09:00 – 10:00, CT, Chicago IL
• 10:00 – 11:00, EDT, New York
• 15:00 – 16:00, BST, London
• 16:00 – 17:00, CEST, Berlin
• 17:00 – 18:00, MSK, Moscow
• 18:00 – 19:00, GST, Dubai
• 19:30 – 20:30, IST, Mumbai

This webinar is fee of charge

The post Breast Milk – a Source of SARS-CoV-2 Antibodies appeared first on Medela South Africa.

Thursday, 11 March 2021

Objectives:

• To learn about the basic immunological components of human milk
• To understand the antibody response in human milk and how this differs from the systemic response
• To learn about the potency, durability and function of the antibody response against COVID-19 in human milk.

Presenter: Assistant Professor Rebecca Powell, PhD CLC

Dr Rebecca Powell is an Assistant Professor of Medicine and Infectious Diseases at Mount Sinai’s Icahn School of Medicine. She studies the immune properties of human milk. Dr Powell received her Bachelor’s degree at the University of Toronto and her Ph. D. in Microbiology at the Sackler Institute of Graduate Biomedical Sciences, New York University School of Medicine. Her graduate work focused on HIV genetic diversity, detection and frequency of dual HIV infections, and the impact of these infections on viral recombination and the humoral immune response. She developed a low-cost method to rapidly detect dual HIV-1 infection. Dr Powell’s early post-doctoral research at the International AIDS Vaccine Initiative (IAVI) Design and Development Lab (DDL), as well as her early research at the Icahn School of Medicine, focused on HIV-1 vaccines. She studied the contribution of  antibody-dependent cellular phagocytosis by breast milk leukocytes to the relatively low rate of HIV transmission to infants breastfed by HIV-infected mothers.

Dr. Powell currently has several active projects aimed to fill knowledge gaps about human milk immunology, exploring: the antibody response to SARS-CoV-2 infection and vaccination; the antibody response to influenza vaccine; and the design of maternal vaccines to eliminate mother-to-child-transmission of HIV via breastfeeding. Dr Powell lives in Brooklyn, NY with her partner and her three children.

Event Details

Date: 11 March 2021

Duration: 1 hour

This webinar was free of charge.

The post The Antibody Response Against SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) in Human Milk appeared first on Medela South Africa.

Research has shown that there are benefits of providing breast milk during the COVID-19 pandemic. Researchers have found that antibodies against COVID-19 are present in the milk of mothers who have previously had COVID-19 or who have received a COVID-19 vaccine.

COVID-19 vaccines are considered to be effective in breastfeeding mothers and pass on antibodies in the breast milk to the baby. Therefore, the WHO SAGE recommend that mothers who are vaccinated continue breastfeeding. 

Should a mother pump and dump her milk after having the COVID-19 vaccine? 

No, breastfeeding can be continued as normal directly after having the COVID-19 vaccination according to the WHO SAGE and CDC. There is no need for the mother to “pump and dump” her milk after having the vaccination.

Are vaccines safe while breastfeeding?

The WHO Strategic Advisory Group of Experts on Immunization (SAGE) interim recommendations state that if a breastfeeding mother is part of a high-risk group e.g. she’s a health worker or in a group recommended to have a vaccination, a vaccine can be offered. 

Whilst research on COVID-19 vaccines did not include women who were breastfeeding, the absence of direct data does not mean the vaccines are not safe.

According to the CDC neither inactivated nor live-virus vaccines, like the AstraZeneca and Janssen vaccines, pose a risk for mothers who are breastfeeding or for their infants. (Except for smallpox and yellow fever vaccines – these are not given to lactating mothers).

The Pfizer–BioNTech and Moderna vaccines do not contain a live virus. The mRNA in these vaccines does not enter the core of the cell, and is degraded quickly. According to the CDC, the COVID-19 vaccines are thought not to be a risk to a child breastfeeding or receiving breast milk.

The vaccines are considered to be effective in breastfeeding mothers and even pass on protection to the baby through breast milk.

Therefore, the WHO SAGE guidance recommends that mothers who are vaccinated continue breastfeeding.

How long do antibodies stay in breast milk? 

There are as yet no studies which confirm exactly how long the antibody protection lasts in infants whose mother had COVID-19 and continues to breastfeed. It has been found that the antibodies in mothers who had COVID-19 seem to remain present in breast milk for at least around 10 months post-infection. 

A study looking at breastfeeding mothers who had received the COVID-19 vaccine suggests that they may pass protective antibodies to their babies through breast milk for at least 80 days following vaccination.

For safe storage of expressed breast milk at home please see our guidelines.

Further Information

Webinars:

Latest:

The Antibody Response Against SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) in Human Milk (11.03.2021)

Also:

Breast Milk – a Source of SARS-CoV-2 Antibodies (08.10.2020)

Evidence of a strong and specific antibody response against SARS-CoV-2 in human milk (16.07.2021)

News:

COVID-19: Support of research projects on breast milk and antibodies

New Research Shows Human Milk Contains Long-Lasting, Potent Antibodies against COVID-19

Disclaimer:

The information and materials provided on this website does not, and is not intended to, constitute legal advice; instead, all information available on this site are for general informational purposes only. Information on this website may not constitute the most up-to-date information. Medela reserves the right to supplement this website at any time or to change or delete any information or materials on this website.

This website contains links to other third-party websites. Such links are only for the convenience of the reader, user or browser; Medela does not recommend or endorse the contents of the third-party sites.

The information and materials on this web site is provided “as is”; no representations are made that the content is error-free. Whilst we have tried to ensure the accuracy and completeness of the information and materials on this website, we do not warrant or guarantee the accurateness, completeness, adequacy or currency of the information and materials contained in or linked to this website.

All liability with respect to actions taken or not taken based on the content of this website are hereby expressly disclaimed. Your use of content contained in or linked to this website is entirely at your own risk. Medela accepts no liability for any loss or damage howsoever arising out of the use of this website or reliance on the content of this website.

The post FAQ on COVID-19: Breast milk, vaccines and antibodies appeared first on Medela South Africa.

A lot of it has to do with the foods you’re eating. Certain foods, herbs, medications, and dyes (think neon green Gatorade!) can change the color of your breast milk. And while it can be strange, it’s usually completely harmless. Read on to see what might be turning your breast milk into a rainbow of colors.

​​​​​​​Blue or Clear

Usually blueish or clear, watery breast milk is indicative of “foremilk.” Foremilk is the first milk that flows at the start of a pumping (or nursing) session and is thinner and lower in fat than the creamier, whiter milk you see at the end of a session.

Yellow

There are several reasons you might see breast milk with a yellow hue.

• You just started breastfeeding. Colostrum, which is the highly-concentrated and nutritious first milk your body makes after giving birth, is often thick and yellow in color.
• You’re getting your share of beta-carotene. Vegetables like carrots, squash, and sweet potatoes are high in this vitamin, and may color your breast milk slightly yellow or orange.
• Your breast milk is frozen. Sometimes freezing breast milk can turn it slightly yellow.

​​​​​​​Green

Have you been knocking back a lot of green smoothies? If your breast milk has a green tint, it’s likely because you’ve been loading up on lots of green veggies like spinach, seaweed, and kale. Oh, and that green Gatorade (or other food dyes) can play a role, too.

​​​​​​​Pink, Red, or Rust

If you’re pumping pink, red, or breast milk, it could be caused by a couple of things:

• Again, you may have consumed food or drinks that are naturally red or pink, like beets, or made with artificial dyes, like orange soda or red Jell-O.
• You may have a small amount of blood in your breast milk. Don’t panic! Having blood in your breast milk is typically caused by a rupture in a blood capillary or cracked nipples, and is not harmful to your baby. In most cases, the bleeding will go away on its own in a few days. But be sure to keep an eye on it and call your doctor if you have any concerns, or if there’s more than trace amounts of blood in your breast milk. If the bleeding doesn’t go away in a couple of days, or if it is more than a trace amount, call your health provider.

Black

Pumping can be shocking, to say the least. But If you have chocolate-brown or blackish milk, it’s most likely due to some residual blood or it could possibly be due to a medication. Always talk to your health care provider about any herbs or medications you’re taking to make sure they’re safe while breastfeeding.

While it’s always a little strange to see oddly-colored breast milk, remember that the cause is often just something you ate. So try not to stress out and instead, focus on the amazing thing you’re doing for your baby.

The post Things That Affect Breast Milk Color appeared first on Medela South Africa.

Download the guidance for health care professionals as PDF.

1: Can a mother who has tested positive for COVID-19 breastfeed her baby? 

It is recommended that mothers who have confirmed or suspected COVID-19 continue breastfeeding or providing breast milk to their baby.  Recent research has shown that mothers who have had COVID-19 pass on antibodies to their infant via their breast milk.

Steps to avoid spreading the virus to the baby include washing hands before holding the baby, and wearing a face mask when breastfeeding.

2: Can a mother who has tested positive for COVID-19  stay with baby in the same room? 

It is recommended that even if a mother has suspected or confirmed COVID-19 her baby is kept with her in the same room on the maternity ward. Skin-to-skin contact is also encouraged as this helps with breastfeeding and breast milk production.

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) issued guidance on July 22, 2020 regarding separation of mums and babies, based on the latest evidence.

Steps to avoid spreading the virus should be taught to the mother to help prevent passing on any respiratory droplets which could cause infection.

As stated by UNICEF, the Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine, WHO and the CDC, if the mother and baby are able to remain together, breastfeeding is encouraged. Currently, the primary concern is not whether the virus can be transmitted through breast milk, but rather whether an infected mother can transmit the virus through respiratory droplets. Therefore, the CDC recommends the mother wear a mask and use good hand hygiene before and after breastfeeding.

3: Can infants in the NICU receive donor milk? Is this safe regarding COVID-19? 

If a mother cannot breastfeed or provide large enough quantities of her milk to her own infant, it is recommended that the first alternative should be pasteurised donor human milk (PDHM). Donor milk banks screen and test all mothers who donate milk. The breast milk is then pasteurised to additionally remove bacteria and viruses. COVID-19 virus has been shown to be destroyed by the standard pasteurisation techniques.  PDHM is always considered a better choice than infant formula.

4: Can infants in the NICU receive their mother’s expressed milk if she has COVID-19? 

Mothers can provide expressed milk for their baby who is in the NICU. The same safety prevention guidelines apply as for mother’s breastfeeding. The mother should be advised to wear a mask, have good hand hygiene, and avoiding coughing onto her chest wall. Mothers and her family supports should also be given good instructions for pump hygiene and milk collection.

5: How to protect baby from COVID-19 

It is recommended that even if a mother has COVID-19 her baby is kept with her in the same room on the maternity ward. Breastfeeding is encouraged as research has shown that mothers who have had COVID-19 pass on antibodies to their infant via their breast milk. Skin-to-skin contact is also highly advised, when possible, as this supports effective establishment of breastfeeding and adequate breast milk production. 

Steps to avoid spreading the virus will be taught to the mother to help prevent passing on any respiratory droplets which could cause infection. These steps include hand washing before holding the baby, and wearing a face mask when breastfeeding.

6: Should a mother who has COVID-19 switch to formula feeding? 

UNICEF and the WHO states that breastfeeding is the safest, most reliable method of infant feeding in an emergency and therefore switching to formula feeding because a mother has tested positive for COVID-19 is not advised.

7: If a mother had to stop breastfeeding due to illness with COVID-19 can she restart breastfeeding? 

If a mother has been separated from her infant for a period of time and breastfeeding was interrupted, re-establishing lactation when back together with her baby is generally possible and worth trying even if a return to full breastfeeding is not always achievable. The UNICEF UK guidelines can help mother to re-establish her milk supply and continue breastfeeding.

UNICEF UK recommend the following essential measures for management of breastfeeding for re-lactation:

• Start actions to increase hormonal response, including plenty of skin-to-skin contact, nuzzling at the breast and breast massage.
• Breast massage and hand/pump expression (8-10 times in 24 hours) may help when separated from baby or in-between feeds
• The baby should suckle frequently from both breasts at least 8-12 times in 24 hours, at least 15 minutes on each breast. Consider night feeds.
• Try having the baby also at the breast while pumping.
• The baby should be well attached to the breast for effective suckling and to avoid nipple trauma.
• Monitor baby’s stool and urine output

A Lactation Specialist should provide additional guidance and support to re-establish the mother’s milk production and control the baby’s growth.

8: Does COVID-19 affect breast milk supply? 

It is unlikely that COVID-19 in itself reduces or dries up a mother’s breast milk supply. However, reduced breastfeeding frequency due to a mother feeling unwell with COVID-19 can lead to milk supply reducing. Milk supply works on the basis of ‘supply and demand’. The breasts need to receive enough signals (breastfeeds or pumping sessions) to continue making enough milk. It is advisable to speak to a breastfeeding specialist if there are concerns with the mother’s milk supply.

9: Does COVID-19 change breast milk colour 

There is no research showing that COVID-19 changes the colour of breast milk. Breast milk can be different colours in different mothers for a variety of normal reasons. Read our article on this here.

Disclaimer

The information and materials provided on this website does not, and is not intended to, constitute legal advice; instead, all information available on this site are for general informational purposes only. Information on this website may not constitute the most up-to-date information. Medela reserves the right to supplement this website at any time or to change or delete any information or materials on this website.

This website contains links to other third-party websites. Such links are only for the convenience of the reader, user or browser; Medela does not recommend or endorse the contents of the third-party sites.

The information and materials on this web site is provided “as is”; no representations are made that the content is error-free. Whilst we have tried to ensure the accuracy and completeness of the information and materials on this website, we do not warrant or guarantee the accurateness, completeness, adequacy or currency of the information and materials contained in or linked to this website.

All liability with respect to actions taken or not taken based on the content of this website are hereby expressly disclaimed. Your use of content contained in or linked to this website is entirely at your own risk. Medela accepts no liability for any loss or damage howsoever arising out of the use of this website or reliance on the content of this website.

The post Breastfeeding recommendations COVID-19 appeared first on Medela South Africa.

As a result, new mothers lack essential support in the first critical days to help their infants to breastfeed or, if the infant cannot breastfeed, to initiate and build an adequate milk supply for the long term. In addition, COVID-19 has caused significant stress in breastfeeding mothers due to diverse factors.

A call to action: Steps healthcare professionals can take to protect and promote breastfeeding during COVID-19 times and beyond

Keeping mother and baby together 

One important way in which healthcare professionals can support mothers is to ensure that skin-to-skin contact is established as early as possible. Ideally, the baby should go to the breast within the first hour after birth. This recommendation reflects the latest guidelines from the CDC¹ and the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP),² which recommend that all mothers – even those with COVID-19 – should stay with their babies (ideally rooming-in), with appropriate precautions to minimize the risk of infection (face coverings, hand washing, etc).

Ensuring maximum support during the critical period after birth 

The first hours and days after birth are critical for successful breastfeeding.^{3, 4} Providing mothers with appropriate support and counselling during this period is imperative to help them initiate and maintain an adequate milk supply.

Initiating milk supply with pumps where necessary 

Many mothers stop breastfeeding because they feel that their milk supply is inadequate.^{5, 6} It is helpful to identify women who could benefit from early pump use, to initiate and build an adequate milk supply in a timely fashion

On discharge from hospital

Healthcare professionals should discuss with mothers the importance of regular, frequent breastfeeding at home during the first two weeks after delivery, so they understand the importance of building an adequate milk supply for the long term. If direct breastfeeding is not effective or not possible during those early days, it is necessary to use a hospital-grade double breast pump to ensure proper initiation, building and maintenance of adequate milk volumes.⁷

Transitioning from hospital to home-based care 

This may include guidance and advice on continuing breastfeeding, ongoing counselling, and the provision of information about available resources. In the FMR Global Health research study of maternity ward and NICU staff described previously, both groups identified virtual follow-up and education about precautionary measures to reduce the risk of infection as key elements in supporting mothers with their breastfeeding at home.⁸ Such support may take various forms including:

• Virtual support for any problem, or for lactation counselling
• Advising on precautionary measures to minimise the risk of infection
• Recommending support networks of family or friends
• Encouraging mothers to breastfeed and/or pump at home.

In the FMR Global Health report on Preserving breastfeeding in the age of COVID-19: A call to action⁸ 39% of maternity ward staff, and almost half (47%) of NICU staff reported changes in the support offered to mothers on discharge. In particular, both groups reported that personal breast pumps were being provided to a higher proportion of breastfeeding mothers and maternity ward staff were providing more hospital-grade rental pumps as a result of the pandemic. It would be beneficial to ensure that women who need to pump in the early days know how to obtain a hospital-grade breast pump once at home.⁷

Conclusion 

It is clear that the COVID-19 pandemic has had a marked impact on maternity and breastfeeding practices. As the pandemic has progressed, our understanding of the lack of any risk of transmission of infection from mothers to their infants via breast milk has been confirmed.⁹ Evidence also showed the protective value of human milk against the virus, with neutralizing antibodies being detected in milk from previously infected women.^{10, 14} It is therefore largely recognized that breastfeeding should be encouraged and supported even in women infected with COVID-19. Healthcare professionals can provide invaluable guidance and support to help mothers breastfeed successfully, despite the challenges posed by the pandemic and infection control measures. During the mother’s hospital stay, mothers and babies should be kept together and supported to initiate lactation appropriately. Given the shortened length of maternal stay in COVID-19 times, it is imperative that community-based support and hospital-grade pump technology are prescribed as appropriate and become indications in clinical guidelines.

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