Answer Bank: Can mothers with COVID-19 breastfeed?

It is natural for mothers to be worried about their newborns, especially in a crisis like the current COVID-19 pandemic. 

Mother-to-child transmission of the novel coronavirus during pregnancy is unlikely, but after birth a newborn is susceptible to person-to-person spread, according to U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. So, can mothers with COVID-19 breastfeed their babies?

Fortunately, the answer is yes. And the World Health Organization has provided some tips to prevent person-to-person between moms and babies during breastfeeding:

- Practice respiratory hygiene during feeding, such as wearing a mask where available.

- Washing hands before and after touching the infant.

- Routinely clean and disinfect surfaces they have touched.