It's okay for COVID-19 positive mothers to share room with newborns: JAMA

By Dr. Kamal Kant KohliPublished On 2020-12-08T09:12:13+05:30 | Updated On 2020-12-08T14:40:26+05:30

Its okay for COVID-19 positive mothers to share room with newborns: JAMA

There has been lot of confusion as to whether newborn baby can be kept with COVID-19 positive mother or not.While current recommendations vary, most advise either separating COVID-19–infected mothers from their babies after birth or keeping them together and breastfeeding while taking infection-control precautions.

But a new study appearing in JAMA Pediatrics has revealed that mother-to-infant transmission of COVID-19 is rare. Researchers have found in a new study that only 1 of 62 newborns who breastfed and roomed with their 61 COVID-19–infected mothers in Lombardy, Italy, was diagnosed as having the novel coronavirus.

The findings of this study suggest that mother-to-infant transmission of SARS-CoV-2 during rooming-in practice is rare, provided that adequate droplet and contact precautions are taken.

In this six-center cohort study, 62 neonates born to 61 mothers with SARS-CoV-2 infection were roomed-in with appropriate precautions.Mothers with SARS-CoV-2 infection were encouraged to practice rooming-in and breastfeeding under a standardized protocol to minimize the risk of viral transmission.

It was found that no neonate tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 on nasopharyngeal swab at birth, and 95% of them were breastfed. All neonates were followed up until age 3 weeks; only 1 neonate was diagnosed as having SARS-CoV-2 infection during follow-up.

The one infected newborn was taken to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) after 5 days, when the mother developed bilateral pneumonia and pulmonary embolism requiring mechanical ventilation for 14 days. Two days after arrival in the NICU, the infant tested positive for SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, and had periodic, mild shortness of breath for a few days.

The findings of this cohort study provide evidence-based information on the management of mother-infant dyads in case of SARS-CoV-2 maternal infection suggesting that rooming-in and breastfeeding can be practiced in women who are able to care for their infants.They added that separating mothers from their newborns interferes with both bonding and breastfeeding.

For further reference log on to:

JAMA Pediatr. Published online December 7, 2020. doi:10.1001/jamapediatrics.2020.508

Source : JAMA Pediatrics

Dr. Kamal Kant Kohli

Dr Kamal Kant Kohli-MBBS, DTCD- a chest specialist with more than 30 years of practice and a flair for writing clinical articles, Dr Kamal Kant Kohli joined Medical Dialogues as an Editor-in-Chief for the Speciality Medical Dialogues section. Besides writing articles, as an editor, he proofreads and verifies all the medical content published on Medical Dialogues including those coming from journals, studies,medical conferences,guidelines etc. Before Joining Medical Dialogues, he has served at important positions in the medical industry in India including as the Hony. Secretary of the Delhi Medical Association as well as the chairman of Anti-Quackery Committee in Delhi and worked with other Medical Councils in India. Email: editorial@medicaldialogues.in. Contact no. 011-43720751