Breastfeeding your baby during COVID-19
If you have COVID-19 and are breastfeeding, you can continue to breastfeed while taking precautions.
To reduce the risk of spreading the virus while breastfeeding, you should:
- wear a surgical face mask
- wash your hands thoroughly before feeding
- avoid kissing and touching your baby’s face.
If you are too unwell to breastfeed, you can express your milk and give it to your pēpi in a bottle. Make sure you still follow the precautions above.
There is no evidence of transmission of the virus through breast milk. Your midwife or doctor can provide further advice about breastfeeding when you have COVID-19.
Vaccination
If you are pregnant, breastfeeding, or planning a pregnancy
You can get the Pfizer vaccine at any stage of pregnancy including breastfeeding or trying to get pregnant. There is not enough data on the use of Novavax in pregnant people, so Pfizer is the preferred vaccine.
Being vaccinated against COVID-19 means you are less likely to get seriously ill. It also helps protect your pēpi from COVID-19 while you are pregnant and after they are born.
As well as your initial COVID-19 dose/s, pregnant people over 12 years old, can have additional doses as long as it’s been 6 months since the last dose or COVID-19 infection.
More information on vaccines can be found here.
If you are pregnant or have recently given birth
If you have COVID-19, your pregnancy care may be provided through telehealth while you are infectious.
Let your midwife or doctor know you have COVID-19. If you need any extra care depending on your risk factors, or how well you are managing any symptoms, they can help organise it for you.
Maternity care will always be available to those who need it.
If you are pregnant and get COVID-19, you should contact your midwife or doctor straight away if you experience any of these things:
- your pēpi is moving less than usual or not at all, there is a change in baby’s usual pattern
- bleeding from the vagina, or leaking fluid from the vagina
- headache that does not go away
- shortness of breath when resting or lying down
- feeling like you cannot cope with your symptoms at home
- a temperature higher than 37.5 degrees
- feeling really tired
- feeling very anxious or worried
- feeling unsafe at any time.
It is rare for babies to get COVID-19 during the pregnancy or birth. Babies who do get it mostly have mild symptoms or none at all.
For more information about COVID-19 and breastfeeding, visit info.health.nz/conditions-treatments/infectious-diseases/covid-19
