COVID, Pregnancy, and Breastfeeding Update - LA County Department of Public Health

June 22, 2020

The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health recently provided an update related to women who were pregnant and tested positive for COVID-19. Below are key points shared in the update.

• 329 women who are pregnant have tested positive for COVID-19, and 74% of the women who were tested and were positive, were symptomatic.
• To date, there have been 72 live births and 5 non-live births among women who tested positive for COVID-19. Our hearts go out to the families who are mourning the loss of their infants.
• 48 infants have been tested at birth and all have tested negative for COVID-19.
• LADPH reinforced that breast milk is the best source of nutrition for most infants. It is not known whether mothers with COVID-19 can transmit the virus via breast milk, but the limited data available suggest this is not likely to be a source of transmission. Further, whether and how to start or continue breastfeeding should be determined by the mother in coordination with her family and healthcare providers.
• A mother with confirmed COVID-19 should take all possible precautions to avoid spreading the virus to her infant, including hand hygiene and wearing a cloth face covering, and talk to her provider about the safest way to breastfeed.
• New parents to visit BREASTFEEDLA.ORG and PHFEWIC.org for more information.