COLLECTING AND STORING BREASTMILK DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC

Breastmilk is the BEST source of nutrition for infants. It is very unlikely that COVID-19 will be passed through your breastmilk. The COVID-19 infection does not mean you have to stop . Just include respiratory protection when you are near your baby. The benefits of skin to skin and breastfeeding of breastmilk feeds outweighs the risks of transmission of COVID-19.

Special Directions for COVID-19 Before Pumping During Pumping After Pumping Positive Mothers • Wash your hands for 20 seconds • Pump directly into the cleaned • Wash your hands for 20 seconds If you are positive or think you have and lather with soap and rinse connected to the pump and lather with soap and rinse been exposed: in warm water. or new storage . in warm water. • Use a face covering when you • Dry them with a clean • Massage the breast during • the with date of are breastfeeding or expressing towel. pumping if doing a single pump expression and name. your milk. • Use cleaned pump kits and session. • Check the milk / • Pay special attention to or bags. • Pump both breasts for leakage. Do not keep units handwashing for 20 seconds Check for tears in the bag or simultaneously when/if you are with leaks and tears. and lather with soap and rinse chipping of the bottles. comfortable managing it. • Put the fresh milk container in a in warm water and dry them • Wipe high touch surfaces with • Fill the milk containers ¾ full. clean bin inside the freezer. with a clean paper towel. disinfectants, such as your Milk expands with freezing. The container or milk bag must • If you are coughing excessively counter or sink if you plan to • DO NOT PLACE MULTIPLE be securely sealed. on your chest, you may want to use those surfaces to place your PUMPINGS IN A SINGLE BREAST • The freezer must be kept at -18 wipe your chest and breasts breast pump, breast pump kit or MILK STORAGE BAG OR °C (-4F°). Ideal storage is 3 with warm water before bottles or if your milk will come CONTAINER. months in the freezer but breastfeeding. in contact with these surfaces. It acceptable is less than12 • If you feel too ill to breastfeed, is unnecessary to wipe your months. have someone help you get bottles or bags with a • If you are planning to use the ready to breastfeed or pump. disinfectant. freshly expressed milk before 5 • There is always donor milk days, place the milk container in available and you can order the refrigerator. donor milk from your Mothers’ • ALWAYS FOLLOW Milk Bank. MANUFACTURER’S DIRECTION TO CLEAN YOUR PUMP AND KIT.

Sources: HMBANA Best practice for Expressing, Storing and Handling Human Milk, 2019 www.cdc.gov/healthywater/hygiene/healthychildcare/infantfeeding/breastpump and Interim Infection Prevention and Control Recommendation Corona Disease 2019 Pregnancy and Breastfeeding (2020) WHO COVID-19 and Breastfeeding position paper (2020) UNICEF Corona Disease (COVID-19) What Parents Should Know About COVID-19 (2020)