Breast Milk-fed Infant of COVID-19 Pneumonia Mother: a Case Report

Abstract

<title>Abstract</title> In China, mothers with confirmed or suspected COVID-19 pneumonia are recommended to stop breastfeeding. However, the evidence to support this guidance is lacking. This report analyzes the case of a mother who persisted breastfeeding her baby when both were diagnosed with confirmed COVID-19 pneumonia. SARS-CoV-2 nucleic acid was not detected in the breast milk, and antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 were present in detected in the mother's serum and milk. There was no evidence of mother-to-child transmission of the virus through breastfeeding. This case report demonstrates that breastfeeding may even be useful for improving the recovery of the infant without exacerbating disease severity.