Breastmilk from COVID-19 positive mothers

• Perth Children’s Hospital (PCH) - Ward 3B
• King Edward Memorial Hospital (KEMH)

It is understandable to be concerned about whether providing milk for your baby is safe or even advisable during a pandemic.

This is especially true if you think you have been exposed to or diagnosed with COVID-19. However, we want to reassure you that your milk is safe and beneficial for your baby.

Frequently asked questions

These are the commonly asked questions about the safety of breastmilk when COVID positive:

Does COVID-19 get into my milk?

We do not know for sure if mothers with COVID-19 pass the virus into their milk.

The few studies on this topic did not find COVID-19 in the mother’s milk. Studies of mothers who had a similar virus Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) did not find the SARS virus in the mother’s milk.

However, any virus that makes its way into the mother’s blood stream causes her to create very specific types of protection, called antibodies, that fight viruses. These antibodies pass into the mother’s milk and may provide protection for the baby.

Wouldn’t it just be best for my baby to have formula or donor milk?

It is easy to think that it is “on the safe side” to avoid providing your milk, but the opposite is true. Only your milk - not formula or donor milk - has the antibodies to lower the chances that your baby becomes sick with COVID-19.

Most authorities (World Health Organization, Centers for Disease Control, American Academy of Pediatrics, Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine) recommend that breastfeeding should continue in the presence of COVID-19. In the Neonatal Unit, mother’s milk is even more important because it helps the baby’s immature immune system fight different types of infections.
What if my baby needs donor milk? Can I be sure that it does not have COVID-19?

This is a very normal concern. However, milk bank that provide donor milk to the Neonatal Unit have many steps to assure the milk is safe.

First, donor mothers must have a blood test to show they do not have certain blood-borne viruses. Once this test is clear, a sample of the milk is sent to pathology. If the milk contains harmful bacteria it will not be used.

Finally, all accepted donor milk is pasteurised — just like milk you buy in the store for your family. This heat-treatment kills bacteria in the milk, including viruses like COVID-19.

What else can I do to lower the chances that my baby is exposed to COVID-19 while providing my milk?

Remember that all bacteria and viruses, including COVID-19, can get into pumped milk, even if they do not come from the breast itself. Here are several precautions you can take.

Wash your hands with warm, soapy water or an alcohol hand sanitiser before you start to pump or handle milk collection equipment.

Bacteria from your hands can get into the pumped milk even if they are not in the milk beforehand. If you have or are suspected of having COVID-19, wear a facemask when breastfeeding or expressing breastmilk.

Make sure your breast pump collection kit is cleaned as soon as possible after use. Wash your collection kit with warm, soapy water after each use then rinse it with clear water and air-dry it away from other dishes or where family members might touch the pieces. Sanitise your kit at least twice daily with a microwave steam bag, by boiling in a pot on the stove, or in the dishwasher.

Avoid coughing or sneezing on the breast pump collection kit and the milk storage containers.

This tip is especially important because COVID-19 is spread by coughing, sneezing and breathing.

Clean the outside of the breast pump before you use it. Use a disinfectant wipe to clean the outside of the pump whether you use it at home or in the Neonatal Unit.

How to transport and deliver expressed breast milk

You cannot deliver the milk to the hospital while you are in self-isolation. If a friend or family member (who is well and not under any quarantine direction) is able to pick up your expressed milk and deliver to the hospital for you:

• please ensure that each bottle is wiped down with a disinfecting wipe
• label each bottle with your baby’s details, the time and date of expressing and place in a sealed bag
• place bag into a clean cool box (provided by the person delivering the milk) with ice bricks to maintain temperature whilst transporting
• ensure the cool bag does not come into contact with any COVID-19 positive or at risk people and the person transporting maintains safe physical distancing.

Once your friend/family arrives at the hospital they must present to the front of the hospital. They will need to alert the screening team that they have expressed milk for your baby in the nursery. The screening team will transfer the milk to another esky and deliver the milk to the Neonatal Unit.

Alternatively, you can store your breastmilk in the freezer to be used at a later date.

If you have any more questions about breastfeeding or breastmilk, contact the Neonatal Unit and ask to speak with the Lactation Consultant, Midwife or Milk Room Nurse.

This document can be made available in alternative formats on request for a person with a disability.