Breastfeeding and COVID-19

COVID-19 is a strain of coronavirus linked to the same family of viruses as Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS). Symptoms of COVID-19 include fever, cough and shortness of breath.

Yes. If you have been diagnosed with (or suspect that you have) COVID-19, it is safe to breastfeed your baby. You can be supported to remain together while continuing to breastfeed or supply expressed breastmilk for them.

Breastfeeding keeps mums and babies together.and helps protect babies from a variety of illnesses. This is because breastmilk contains antibodies and other immune protective factors. 

It is often possible to restart breastfeeding if you have stopped. Speak with a breastfeeding counsellor for tips and support. 

If you are too unwell to breastfeed your baby, another option is to express.  That way, your baby keeps receiving your breastmilk and is less likely to become unwell.

Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water before expressing. If you use a breast pump, ensure it is cleaned well after each use. Ask for help with expressing from a family member or your healthcare team if you need it.

Some mums notice a drop in their supply when they are unwell, including with COVID-19. If this happens to you, you can discuss it with a breastfeeding counsellor. Continue to breastfeed or express often and stay hydrated. Your supply should return to normal as you recover.

Even if you don’t have any symptoms, there are things we can all do to minimise the chances of spreading COVID-19: 

• Wash your hands often using soap and water or use an alcohol-based hand sanitiser.  

• Cover your mouth and nose with a bent elbow or tissue when coughing or sneezing, and immediately throwing away any used tissues. 

• Avoid close contact with anyone who has cold or flu-like symptoms. 

• See a doctor if you develop even the mildest of symptoms including a runny nose, cough, fever, sore throat etc.  

For the latest information about COVID-19 where you live, refer to your state health department website.

 Australia's Department of Health has indicated that breastfeeding women can get an approved COVID-19 vaccine and do not need to stop breastfeeding before or after each dose.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has recommended that breastfeeding women be vaccinated against COVID-19 whenever they are part of a group of people for whom vaccination is recommended. The WHO also recommends that women continue breastfeeding after vaccination.

Discuss any questions you have about the COVID-19 vaccine with your doctor.

Pregnant and breastfeeding women respond to the vaccine in a way that is similar to other women. They produce similar antibodies and can experience similar side-effects. But when a breastfeeding woman is vaccinated, the antibodies her body makes in response to the vaccine can be detected in her breastmilk. It is thought these antibodies may help to protect her breastfed baby. Antibodies have also been found in the breastmilk of women who have been naturally infected with COVID-19, but in lower amounts. 

When a pregnant woman receives a COVID-19 vaccine, her antibodies pass to her unborn baby through the umbilical cord. After the birth, her baby’s risk of serious illness may be reduced in the first few months of life.

With a growing body of research now available, there is no evidence that COVID-19 vaccines cause harm to breastfeeding women or their babies.