COVID-19 and breastfeeding

Mothers who choose to breastfeed:

Breast milk provides protection against many illnesses and is the best source of nutrition for most infants. Learn more about breastfeeding.
You, along with your family and healthcare providers, should decide whether and how to start or continue breastfeeding.
We do not know for sure if mothers with COVID-19 can spread the virus to babies in their breast milk, but the limited data available suggest this is not likely.
If you have COVID-19 and choose to breastfeed:
- Wear a cloth face covering while breastfeeding and wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds before each feeding.
If you have COVID-19 and choose to express breast milk:
- Use a dedicated breast pump (not shared).
- Wear a cloth face covering during expression and wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds before touching any pump or bottle parts and before expressing breast milk.
- Follow recommendations for proper pump cleaning [Español] after each use, cleaning all parts that come into contact with breast milk.
- If possible, expressed breast milk should be fed to the infant by a healthy caregiver who does not have COVID-19, is not at high-risk for severe illness from COVID-19, and is living in the same home.
Parents and other caregivers should follow recommendations described in the Discontinuation of Isolation for Persons with COVID-19 Not in Healthcare Settings.