The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued interim guidance on breastfeeding for women with COVID-19. The agency says it remains unknown whether COVID-19 can be transmitted through breastmilk. However, they recommend breastfeeding women with confirmed COVID-19 or symptoms take precautions to avoid infecting her infant, such as washing hands before touching the child and wearing a face mask while the child is at the breast.

In new commentary, Alison Stuebe, MD, President of the Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine, addresses the risks and benefits of separating infants from COVID-19-positive mothers following birth. Although multiple public health organizations recommended keeping mothers and infants together, the United States’ Centers for Disease Control and Prevention advises facilities to consider separating mothers and babies temporarily until the mother is no longer contagious, and recommends that the risks and benefits of temporary separation should be discussed with the mother by the healthcare team.

In light of the current COVID-19 crisis, the Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine has compiled resources for healthcare professionals to best serve their patients. The pandemic has changed lives at work and at home, and continues to do so with each day. Information about COVID-19 transmission is emerging daily and the ABM encourages consulting resources such as the CDC and the WHO for the most recent guidance. Also included on the ABM’s resource page is ABM’s Statement on Coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19), which is available in a English, Chinese, German, Italian, Japanese, Spanish, and Turkish.