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Breastmilk and COVID: What Can We Learn?


By Alanna Iacovetti

Breastmilk: A Natural Immune Booster 

As we all know, breastmilk is magical. Just one drop contains more than one million white blood cells, working to fight infections and diseases. Human milk has long been known to protect babies against: 
✔ Pneumonia 
✔ Diarrhea 
✔ Ear infections 
✔ Asthma 
✔ Respiratory infections 
But could breastmilk provide extra protection against COVID-19? 

 

Does Breastfeeding Protect Against COVID-19? 

Early in the pandemic, there was concern that breastmilk could transmit COVID-19 to infants. However, recent research confirms that this is NOT the case. Instead, breastmilk helps deliver powerful, milk-borne antibodies that may neutralize the virus: 

A 2021 study from The International Breastfeeding Journal found: 

“The risk of COVID-19, acute otitis media (ear infections), or headaches in children is amplified for those who were never breastfed. Among never-breastfed children, 1 in 25 tested positive for SARS-CoV-2; among breastfed children, only 1 in 60 tested positive.” 

In other words, breastfeeding may lower the risk of COVID-19 in infants. 

James Estrin, The New York Times

How Does Breastmilk Provide COVID-19 Protection? 

Mothers who have been previously infected with COVID-19 or vaccinated produce protective antibodies in their breastmilk. These antibodies pass to their babies, potentially providing additional immunological protection. 

Because of this, more parents are choosing to extend their breastfeeding journey in hopes of giving their little ones added protection. 

Why Some Parents Are Extending Breastfeeding 

Noreen Malone, author of Slate’s The Long-Haul Breastfeeders of COVID, shared: 
"More and more parents are going beyond the six months or one year of breastfeeding they originally aimed for, based on AAP recommendations. Among the women I spoke to, going eighteen months or two years was relatively common." 
According to a survey from Washington University in St. Louis, Johns Hopkins, and the University of North Carolina: 
✔ 30% of surveyed mothers wanted to extend breastfeeding until the end of the pandemic. 
✔ Many were able to do so during early lockdowns, citing immunological protection as a primary reason. 
✔ The ease of working from home made extended breastfeeding more possible for some families. 

Some Moms Even Attempted Re-Lactation After Vaccination 

According to The New York Times, some mothers who had already begun weaning even tried to restart lactation after receiving the COVID-19 vaccine. This is an incredibly complex and challenging process—but it highlights how strongly many parents believe in breastmilk’s immunological benefits. 

Every Feeding Journey Looks Different—And That’s Okay

While extended breastfeeding is an option for some, we know that every parent’s situation is different. 

Whether you are: 
✔ Breastfeeding 
✔ Pumping 
✔ Combo-feeding 
✔ Formula feeding 
💙 You are doing an epic job. 💙 
There is no shame in doing what works for you and your baby. 
As always, fed is best! 

Further Reading on Breastmilk & COVID-19 

📌 Can Mother’s Milk Help Fight COVID? New Evidence Suggests ‘Yes’ 
📌 Human Milk and COVID-19 Antibodies – Another Win for Breastfeeding? 

Looking for safe, convenient breastmilk storage solutions? The Ceres Chill Breastmilk Chiller keeps your milk safe for up to 20 hours—perfect for pumping moms balancing work & breastfeeding.

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