Can COVID-19-positive mothers give the virus to newborns?

Some hospitals when COVID-19 began to spread in the United States Separation of positive mothers from newborns Expecting your baby to be protected from contracting it.But a new study published in JAMA Pediatrics I found that my baby can be breastfed and stay with me COVID-19 positive mother Without increasing the risk of getting a virus.

“Most of us believed that was the right thing. Keeping the mother and baby together was the right thing. Breastfeeding was the right thing,” said OB-GYN, Elder New York. Dr. Cynthia Ganfi Bananaman, an expert in maternal-fetal medicine at Columbia University Medical Center, said today. “Before breastfeeding, it is recommended that moms wear masks, wash their hands and clean their breasts.”

Gyamfi-Bannerman, author of the retrospective analysis, said he examined 101 babies born to COVID-19-positive mothers when New York City was the epicenter of the coronavirus epidemic in the United States. At that time, experts didn’t understand viruses as much as they do today. Still, the hospital where she worked did not isolate the newborn from a woman infected with COVID-19. Instead, doctors encouraged hand washing, masking, and breastfeeding after “proper hygiene.” Of the 101 newborns, the study found that there was no “clinical evidence” that the mother transmitted the virus to the baby. This is known as a vertically transmitted infection.

“I’m not saying there is no or no vertical transmission,” she said. “For the majority of women, we need to at least reassure them that they don’t have to leave their baby. The chances of getting infected in an environment with proper precautions such as masks, hand and breast hygiene are fairly low. “

This means that mom and baby don’t have to spend their baby’s first day in two different rooms. This can adversely affect the baby’s development and budding relationship.

“Such data are consistent with our actual experience,” said Dr. Hyagrib Simhan, a professor of obstetrics and gynecology and reproductive science at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, in a study today. “In general, it helps to understand that contact with the mother’s newborn can be achieved in a safe way. This is great and should be reassuring to the mother.”

Close contact between the mother and the newborn is important for strengthening the connection between the two and can lead to successful breastfeeding.

“The emotional and physical benefits of mother-newborn contact are numerous in terms of early emotional connections in parenting,” said Simhan. “It’s important to promote breastfeeding.”

American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists’ policy, TODAY updated in August. The policy also recommends keeping the mother and baby together, but acknowledges that it may be best to separate them.

“Given the available evidence on this topic, a mother-infant duo who has confirmed that her mother suspects SARS-CoV-2 infection should ideally be able to afford it according to normal institutional policy. Is still out and the long-term effects are not yet complete, but as is understood, the data show newborns regardless of whether the newborn is being cared for in another room or remains in the mother’s room. It suggests that there is no difference in the risk of SARS-CoV2 infection to the mother.

Importantly, with patients, their families, and clinical teams to decide whether to keep an individual with or suspected SARS-CoV-2 infection and their baby together or separately after birth. You need to include the process of sharing your decisions. ”

Simhan also hopes that these findings will ease the fear that mothers may feel when undergoing a COVID-19 test before childbirth.

“If the test was to identify a woman as positive, even if she had no symptoms … there might have been a recommendation for isolation. That’s a real impediment to finding,” he said. “Therefore, removing the warning by allowing contact with the mother provides some reassurance.