Breast milk would not transmit the virus, and would even provide antibodies to the baby.
- The breast milk of infected mothers contains IgA, IgG and IgM antibodies, effective against SARS-CoV-2 proteins.
- For vaccinated women, the level of antibodies present in breast milk varies according to the vaccine, and in case of infection by the virus.
- In France, one in two women breastfeeds her child.
Breastfeeding and Covid-19 infection are compatible. Spanish scientists provide proof of this in a study published on June 14. In France, in March 2020, the French Society of Neonatology and the French Society of Pediatrics said not “contraindicate breastfeeding for women carrying the virus. This new study proves that there is no risk of transmission on the one hand, but that it could also have a protective effect.
A virus absent from the samples
This work is part of an initiative called MilkCORONA, bringing together several Spanish universities, whose objective is to study the impact of contamination of the mother on breast milk. This time, the scientists analyzed samples of breast milk, taken from women infected with the virus: none of them contained any trace of Covid-19. In contrast, mothers seem to transmit antibodies to their babies through their milk, as most samples contained them, in varying amounts. “These results clearly show the importance of consistently recommending breastfeeding in cases where the mother has few or no symptoms.“, underlines Dr. Martínez Costa, one of the authors of the study. In France, themedical academy recommends breastfeeding mothers to apply a few protective measures in the event of contamination: wearing a mask during breastfeeding, washing hands before and after and disinfection of nipples.
A transmission of the benefits of the vaccine
In a second part, the study focused on women who had received injections of Pfizer, Moderna or AstraZeneca vaccines. 75 samples of breast milk were studied: all contained antibodies linked to Covid-19. Women who received a single dose, but who had already been infected with the virus, had a level of antibodies similar to those who received two doses of the vaccine.
What does breast milk provide?
Apart from Covid-19, breastfeeding has many benefits. Different types of antibodies are transmitted between mother and child, through breast milk: this provides protection against germs. Breastfed children are also less prone to diarrhea, colds and allergies, according to data from the National health nutrition program. Over the months, the nutrients present in breast milk evolve, so that it is always adapted to the needs of the child.
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