Resources to Address Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19)

The pandemic has changed lives at work and at home, and continue to do so with each day. ABM has put together some resources that you need to care for your patients. Information about COVID-19 transmission is emerging daily. Please consult resources such as the CDC and the WHO for the most recent guidance.

Much is unknown about how COVID-19 is spread. Person-to-person spread is thought to occur mainly via respiratory droplets produced when an infected person coughs or sneezes, like how influenza (flu) and other respiratory pathogens spread.

In limited studies on women with COVID-19 and another coronavirus infection, Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS-CoV), the virus has not been detected in breast milk; however we do not know whether mothers with COVID-19 can transmit the virus via breast milk.

ABM Statement on Coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19)
Statement available in: English, Chinese, German, Italian, Japanese, Spanish, Turkish 

 

ABM Statement on Considerations for COVID-19 Vaccination in Lactation

Statement available in: English, Japanese

Webinars:

Breastfeeding and COVID-19

The Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine (ABM) hosted a one-hour webinar on Wednesday, April 22, 6 pm ET where panelists discussed available evidence around encouraging, supporting, and sustaining breastfeeding in the midst of the SARS-COV2 global pandemic.

Moderator: Tara Williams, MD

Speakers:
Julie Ware, MD, MPH, IBCLC: Overview of ABM, CDC, WHO & AAP Statements on COVID-19 & Breastfeeding
Melissa Bartick, MD, MS, FABM: COVID-19: Separating Infected Mothers from Newborns: Weighing the Risks and Benefits
Kathy Leeper, MD, IBCLC, FABM: Providing Breastfeeding Support via Telemedicine
Larry Noble, MD: A Tragedy is Unfolding': Inside New York's Virus Epicenter

A recording of the webinar is available below.

Access the Breastfeeding and COVID-19 Webinar Recording

Resources for Health Care Professionals: 

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Interim Considerations for Infection Prevention and Control of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) in Inpatient Obstetric Healthcare Settings

World Health Organization: Clinical management of severe acute respiratory infection when novel coronavirus (nCoV) infection is suspected

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Pregnancy & Breastfeeding: Information about Coronavirus Disease 2019

"Should Infants Be Separated from Mothers with COVID-19? First, Do No Harm"

Free Access to Coronavirus research from Mary Ann Liebert

Institute for Advancement of Breastfeeding & Lactation Education Podcast: Adapting the Practice of Breastfeeding Medicine During the COVID-19 Pandemic with Anne Eglash MD, IBCLC & Karen Bodnar MD, IBCLC, & Panelists

American Academy of Family Physicians Statement on Breastfeeding and COVID-19

International Resources

Statement from the German National Breastfeeding Committee

New Zealand Ministry of Health 

Resources for Parents

New Mom Health

World Health Organization: FAQs on COVID-19, pregnancy, childbirth and breastfeeding