Study Finds No Infection in Babies Who Were Born to SARS-COV-2-positive Mothers and Then Fed Breastmilk

A study in Israel found that there was no viral infection identified in babies born to and separated from their SARS-CoV-2-positive mothers at birth and subsequently fed unpasteurized breastmilk. The study, “Neonatal SARS-CoV-2 Infections in Breastfeeding Mothers,” which will be published in the May 2021 issue of Pediatrics (published online April 13), reported that 73 newborns of SARS-CoV-2-positive mothers were born in Israel during the approximately three-month period under study. Fifty-five newborns were studied, and all neonates tested negative for the virus post-delivery. Of the newborns, 74.5% were fed unpasteurized expressed breastmilk during the post-partum separation until discharge, and 89% of the neonates were discharged home after their mothers were instructed in anti-infection measures. Eighty-five percent of the newborns were breastfed post-discharge. Results for all of the 60% of newborns retested for SARS-CoV-2 post-discharge were negative. These findings may provide insights regarding the redundancy of post-partum mother-newborn separation in SARS-CoV-2 positive women and support the safety of breastmilk when precautions are followed, the authors conclude.

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The American Academy of Pediatrics is an organization of 67,000 primary care pediatricians, pediatric medical subspecialists and pediatric surgical specialists dedicated to the health, safety and well-being of infants, children, adolescents and young adults.