COVID-19 Pandemic and Breastfeeding

Abstract

COVID-19, which spread around the world starting from China in December 2019, is an infection that affects every stage of life from birth. The number of pregnant women and children infected with COVID-19, which is reported to be asymptomatic or to show mild symptoms in most young children, is increasing. Breastfeeding is paramount in terms of sustaining good health during these exceptional conditions. Breast milk is known to have many positive effects for both the mother and the baby in the short and long term. Breast milk has unique nutritious properties that can be regulated according to neonatal requirements, bioactive substances in breast milk, hormone, and growth factors that affect growth and development factors that regulate the immune system and anti-inflammatory substances which protect the baby from various infections. In addition, antibodies detected in breast milk within 7 days of maternal infection reduce the risk of infection in the baby. In this way, otitis media, lower respiratory tract infections, gastroenteritis, and necrotizing enterocolitis are rare in infants who are breastfed. It has not been reported that COVID-19 infection can be transmitted through breast milk from the mother to the baby. Taking into account the benefits of breast milk and skin to skin contact in contrast with the harms of feeding with formula milk, the WHO advices mothers with COVID-19 to use masks and to pay close attention to hand hygiene. Health care personnels should support the mother in starting and maintaining breastfeeding under the guidance of these recommendations.

Keywords

• COVID-19
• Breast milk
• Breastfeeding
• World Health Organization

COVID-19 ve Anne Sütü ile Beslenme

Abstract

Aralık 2019’da Çin’den başlayarak tüm dünyaya yayılan COVID-19 enfeksiyonu doğumdan itibaren yaşamın her evresini etkileyen bir enfeksiyondur. Küçük çocukların çoğunda asemptomatik ya da hafif şiddette seyrettiği bildirilen COVID-19 enfeksiyonuna yakalanan gebe ve çocuk sayısı giderek artmaktadır. Olağanüstü koşullarda sağlığın korunması ve sürdürülmesinde anne sütü ile beslenme çok önemlidir. Anne sütünün hem anne hem de bebek için kısa ve uzun vadede pek çok olumlu etkisi olduğu bilinmektedir. Yenidoğan gereksinimlerine göre düzenlenebilen eşsiz besleyici özelliği yanı sıra anne sütü içinde bulunan biyoaktif maddeler, büyüme ve gelişmeyi etkileyen hormon ve büyüme faktörleri, immün sistemi düzenleyen faktörler ve antienflamatuvar maddeler bebeği enfeksiyonlardan korumaktadır. Ayrıca maternal enfeksiyonda 7 gün içinde anne sütünde saptanan antikorlar da bebekte enfeksiyon riskini azaltmaktadır. Bu sayede anne sütü ile beslenen bebeklerde otitis media, alt solunum yolu enfeksiyonları, gastroenterit ve prematüre bebeklerde nekrotizan enterokolit nadir görülmektedir. Bu zamana kadar yapılan çalışmalarda anne sütünden bebeğe COVID-19 enfeksiyonu bulaştığı bildirilmemiştir. DSÖ anne sütünün yararlarını, formül sütle beslenmenin zararlarını da hesaba katarak COVID-19 enfekte annelerin maske ve el hijyenine dikkat ederek ten temasını ve anne sütüyle beslenmeyi önermektedir. Sağlık personelleri bu önerilerin rehberliğinde emzirmeyi başlatma ve sürdürme konusunda anne-bebek çiftine destek olmalıdır.

Keywords

• COVID 19
• Anne sütü
• Emzirme
• Dünya Sağlık Örgütü

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