November 25, 2020

Implementation of Hospital Practices Supportive of Breastfeeding in the Context of COVID-19 — United States, July 15–August 20, 2020

Category: Article Summary

Topic: Clinical Characteristics and Health Care Setting

Keywords (Tags): public health

• During summer 2020, 18% of hospitals reported that in-person lactation support for new mothers had decreased. An analysis of data from 1,344 US hospitals indicated that hospitals were attempting to balance evidence-based practices to support breastfeeding with SARS-CoV-2 infection control measures. For mothers with suspected or confirmed COVID-19, 14% of hospitals discouraged and 7% prohibited skin-to-skin care; 38% discouraged and 5% prohibited rooming-in; 20% discouraged direct breastfeeding; and 13% did not support direct breastfeeding but encouraged feeding of expressed breast milk.

Perrine et al. (Nov 27, 2020). Implementation of Hospital Practices Supportive of Breastfeeding in the Context of COVID-19 — United States, July 15–August 20, 2020. MMWR. https://doi.org/10.15585/mmwr.mm6947a3