Introduction
Breastfeeding is important for nutrition, survival, development, and maternal well-being. The World Health Organization suggests exclusive breastfeeding for the initial six months of life. After that, it is recommended to continue with proper complementary foods for at least two years. Early as well as continuous skin-to-skin contact significantly improves neonatal survival and decreases morbidity. Nevertheless, concerns have emerged about whether mothers infected with COVID-19 can transmit the illness to their children due to breastfeeding. This is relevant to nursing as it helps nurses understand new ways of handling unique situations. Professionals need to adapt to new surroundings and needs. This paper aims to explain the impact of COVID-19 on the breastfeeding process, the psychological well-being of new mothers, and the type of support necessary.
Breastfeeding and Transmission of COVID-19
For a new mother, it is important to understand that she is right in her worry about infecting her child. However, it is impossible to transmit the COVID-19 virus through breastfeeding. The World Health Organization suggests that someone in her position be encouraged to continue feeding her baby with breast milk (WHO, 2020). She needs counseling that will enlighten her concerning the advantages of adequate breastfeeding over the possible dangers of coronavirus transmission. The mother and child should be allowed to remain close throughout the day and practice skin-to-skin interaction. This is particularly instantly after birth as well as during the start of breastfeeding.
Detecting the coronavirus in breast milk is not similar to identifying the infective and viable virus. The transmission would require replicative as well as infectious viruses to reach specific sites in the child and overcome their defense systems. In addition to that, infants have appeared to be at low risk of contracting COVID-19 (WHO, 2020). Amongst the confirmed cases, the majority have experienced mild symptoms or are completely asymptomatic. The situation is the same with other zoonotic coronaviruses, which impact kids less and result in fewer and less severe symptoms than adults.
Even though the coronavirus disease cannot be transmitted through breast milk, I would her to conduct herself in a specific way to avoid infecting the child. If she chooses to breastfeed, to prevent the spread of the virus to the infant, she should always wash her hands before as well as after touching the baby. Additionally, she should wear a mask during nursing and wash her hands before handling the breast pump (WHO, 2020). It is essential to allow someone else who is not infected by the disease to give the child expressed breast milk. It would be proper to avoid face-to-face contact with the child and practice sneezing or coughing into a tissue. Lastly, when she is not feeding the infant, she should try to remain a distance from them. All these measures are aimed at reducing the likelihood of spreading the coronavirus through tiny droplets.
Contents of a COVID-19 Patient’s Breastmilk
One concept that is misunderstood is that breast milk from an infected mother might transmit the COVID-19 virus to the child. Research shows that a breastfeeding woman infected with COVID-19 does not transmit the virus via breast milk (WHO, 2020). It additionally indicates that the milk contains antibodies that can deactivate the virus. Examples of antibodies include immunoglobulins, which enable mothers to pass immunity to their babies. Breast milk particularly has immunoglobulins IgM, IgA, IgG, IgM, and SIgA.
It has been established that colostrum contains great quantities of SIgA, which offers protection to a baby by creating a protective layer in their throat, nose, and entire digestive system. When mothers are exposed to bacteria and viruses, they produce extra antibodies in their bodies that can be transferred via breast milk. While some might consider using other means of feeding their children, such as formula, to avoid transmission of the coronavirus, it is important to understand that such do not include environment-specific antibodies. Additionally, they do not possess elements that can establish protective layers on the kids’ bodies. Those who consume their mothers’ milk are in a better position to fight illness. Further research is needed to investigate if and how COVID-19 affects breast milk production. Some female patients of COVID-19 have reported reduced milk supply (WHO, 2020). Despite claims that the disease might lead to declining levels of breast milk, it is possible that this might be a result of constant disruption of the feeding procedure. Since the mothers are worried about infecting their children, their actions are understandable and might be a factor in the dropped amounts of milk.
Psychosocial Risks of COVID-19 and Recommended Supports
It is possible for COVID-19 to affect postpartum mothers’ mental wellness. For instance, the pandemic, as well as the countrywide lockdown, significantly impacted the psychosocial well-being of many people in vulnerable groups. Examples include pregnant females, new mothers, inmates, the disabled, and the homeless (Takubo et al., 2021). The loneliness that arises during such a time when lockdown is implemented and movement is restricted is bad and affects people. It leads to issues such as anxiety, depression, or thoughts of self-harm during postpartum.
Some of the recommended supports that can be offered to new mothers and their babies during such a time include institutions designed to address their emotional well-being. For example, there are professionals at the Lucile Salter Packard Children’s Hospital who can assess the emotional and psychological wellness of new mothers upon discharge or follow-up visits. The meetings can be held virtually as it is convenient at the time to understand how the surroundings of the females is impacting their lives. According to IHI Multimedia Team (2020), those who experience a feeling of isolation can be offered resources on ways to handle the anxiety and grief and encouraged to sleep more. According to Amran (2022), helpline support through telephone means can be helpful. Lastly, it is important to create groups of new mothers, which will help them share their problems with each other and understand how they can assist themselves in dealing with the times.
Conclusion
The paper has explained the impact of COVID-19 on the breastfeeding process, the psychological well-being of new mothers, and the type of support necessary. It is believed by many new mothers that breast milk from a COVID-19 patient can result in the infection of the baby. However, this is not true, and as recommended by the World Health Organization, it is essential to consider breastfeeding the child exclusively for six months after birth. To eliminate the fear and misinformation about the topic, it would be proper for nurses to enlighten new parents on the benefits of sufficient breastfeeding over the conceivable dangers of the transmission of the coronavirus. Lastly, women in the postpartum period can experience mental issues. Providing support such as a helpline would be helpful at a time when the movement to different places is restricted.
References
Amran, M. S. (2022). Psychosocial risk factors associated with mental health of adolescents amidst the COVID-19 pandemic outbreak. International Journal of Social Psychiatry, 68(1), 6-8. Web.
IHI Multimedia Team. (2020). Supporting New Mothers in the Time of COVID-19. Institute for Healthcare Improvement. Web.
Takubo, Y., Tsujino, N., Aikawa, Y., Fukiya, K., Iwai, M., Uchino, T., Ito, M., Akiba, Y., Mizuno, M., & Nemoto, T. (2021). Psychological impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on one-month postpartum mothers in a metropolitan area of Japan. BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth, 21(1), 1-13. Web.
World Health Organization. (2020). Breastfeeding and COVID-19: scientific brief, 23 June 2020 (No. WHO/2019-nCoV/Sci_Brief/Breastfeeding/2020.1). World Health Organization. Web.