What is generally known? Given low rates of transmission of respiratory viruses through breast milk, the World Health Organization states that mothers with COVID-19 can breastfeed. Breastfeeding is biologically normal and encouraged. There are clear health advantages for a baby who is breastfed as well as for a mother who breastfeeds. Breastfeeding is protective.

In these times of uncertainty, our anxiety triggers the temptation to question practices that have proven their benefits or to modify them. Skin-to-skin is the safest transition for both mother and baby. We all know it quite well. Skin-to-skin, when immediate and uninterrupted, facilitates the development of the infant's microbiome from the mother's flora which is exactly what we want in times of pandemic. What we don't want is other bacteria or virus to colonize the infant's skin nor do we want a disinfected maternal skin, if that were even feasible.

In this video, the information is presented by a midwife, Susan Lorenz and the founder of Lactation Care, a Lactation Consultant, Sonya Boersma. Questions from parents are answered by the experts and a number of current online resources are shared. The COVID-19 pandemic raises many questions for expectant and new parents. Concerns and changes in practice regarding pregnancy, birth, newborn care, breastfeeding and skin-to-skin are discussed.