Breastfeeding during the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic: guidelines and challenges

COVID-19 pandemic has raised questions on pregnant women and newborns' management. Guidelines, issued by most international agencies and national bodies, recommend rooming-in and direct breastfeeding. In the early days of this pandemic, breastfeeding practices have been challenged by fear among both parents and healthcare workers occasionally resulting in mother-newborn separation. We herein review current breastfeeding guidelines and discuss remaining questions and challenges. As we are facing the second wave of this pandemic, more information is gathered, especially regarding possible virus transmissibility through breastfeeding, enabling more definite instructions about breastfeeding practices.

Automated summary

The COVID-19 pandemic has brought up questions regarding the management of pregnant women and newborns. Current guidelines recommend rooming-in and direct breastfeeding, but initial fears led to mother-newborn separation. As we gather more information about the possibility of virus transmission through breastfeeding, more definitive instructions can be given for breastfeeding practices.