TY - JOUR ID - 17386 TI - SARS-CoV-2 Transmission Risk through Expressed Breast Milk Feeding in Neonates Born to COVID 19 Positive Mothers: A Prospective Observational Study JO - Iranian Journal of Neonatology JA - IJN LA - en SN - 2251-7510 AU - Pandey, Akash Kumar AU - Shukla, Alka AU - Lal, Purushottam AD - Department of Paediatrics, Maharshi Vashishtha Autonomous State Medical College, District- Basti, Uttar Pradesh, India Y1 - 2021 PY - 2021 VL - 12 IS - 3 SP - 53 EP - 57 KW - Breastfeeding KW - COVID 19 KW - Expressed Breast Milk KW - Lactation KW - Newborn KW - SARS-CoV-2 DO - 10.22038/ijn.2021.53028.1958 N2 - Background: Mother-to-child transmission of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Corona Virus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has become a matter of great concern in post-partum wards and neonatal units. With little prior experience of this novel infection, there are contradictory findings in the literature regarding breastfeeding androoming-in for newborns of mothers with COVID-19 disease. To assess the transmission risk of SARS-CoV- 2 in neonates who were fed expressed breast milk of COVID-19 positive mothers. Methods: This prospective study included 16 neonates born to COVID-19 positive mothers. The neonates were nursed in a neonatal unit separate from their mother. Expressed breast milk was fed by health care givers ensuring proper safety measures. Nasal and throat swabs of neonates were tested twice for SARS CoV-2, firstly, at 48 h of life and secondly, before discharge. Results: Pneumonia was present in 3 (20%) mothers, and C- reactive protein was raised in 9 (60 %) mothers. Birth weight was low in 8 (50%) neonates. Respiratory distress syndrome and meconium aspiration syndrome were present in two and one newborns, respectively. Nasal and throat swabs of all 16 newborns tested negative for SARS-CoV- 2 infection twice, at 48 h of life and before discharge. Conclusion: Expressed breast milk feeding can be considered safe in neonates born to COVID-19 positive mothers. Even sick mothers with COVID-19 can continue to express breast milk after ensuring proper safety measures.     UR - https://ijn.mums.ac.ir/article_17386.html L1 - https://ijn.mums.ac.ir/article_17386_48b91c4d9af64213aae7ef788710a982.pdf ER -