AbstractEarly exclusive breast feeding and close contact help infants to thrive, promote sensory and cognitive development, protect the infant against infectious and chronic diseases, and lower infant mortality from diarrhea, pneumonia, or other common childhood illnesses (WHO). It is still unclear, whether the vertical transmission of SARS-CoV-2 can occur from mother to child. Breast feeding decisions for women with COVID-19 must counter balance the risk for infection to the infant with the known health benefits. Even in the communities where, COVID-19 is prevalent, mothers can breastfeed because it improves not only the survival and lifelong health and development advantages to newborns and infants but also improves the health of mothers.COVID-19 virus has not been found in breast milk, no samples of amniotic fluid, breast milk, cord blood, or neonatal pharyngeal swabs tested positive. Hence women can start to breast feed when she feels well enough to feed her baby. According to the CDC, it may be wise for the mother with COVID-19 and her infant to be in separate rooms until the mother’s transmission-based precautions are discontinued. Mothers should follow infection prevention measures, such as washing hands, cleaning surfaces, sneezing or coughing into a tissue while feeding the infant.
Keywords: Breast Feeding; COVID 19; Mother and breast feeding.