August 11, 2020

Newborns of COVID-19 Mothers: Short-Term Outcomes of Colocating and Breastfeeding from the Pandemic’s Epicenter

Category: Article Summary

Topic: Transmission

• A retrospective cross-sectional study from a New York hospital with high incidence of maternal SARS-CoV-2 infection found that newborns did not show signs of infection after birth (n=45 live births from SARS-CoV-2-positive mothers). Patil et al. additionally reported no short-term adverse neonatal outcomes with skin-to-skin care, rooming-in, or breastfeeding in infants of SARS-CoV-2 positive mothers. Of the SARS-CoV-2-positive mothers, 60% were asymptomatic and only 7% of newborns tested positive. None of the newborns required NICU admission for COVID-19-related symptoms, reported any symptoms consistent with COVID-19 post-discharge, or had emergency department visits or hospital admissions related to COVID-19 post-discharge. 

Patil et al. (Aug 10, 2020). Newborns of COVID-19 Mothers: Short-Term Outcomes of Colocating and Breastfeeding from the Pandemic’s Epicenter. Journal of Perinatology. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41372-020-0765-3