BREASTFEEDING & IMMUNITY:Can breastmilk protect babies from COVID? How breastmilk fights infections

Can breastfeeding protect babies from infections (especially COVID)?
How does breastmilk work to transfer protection and antibodies from maternal to infant bodies?
Will older children have infection fighting benefits if they drink breastmilk?
Should I wait to wean my child until I am vaccinated?

Dr. Marta Perez, OB-GYN answers these questions and more in this episode!

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**Video is for educational purposes only and should not be used as personal medical advice. Please discuss anything related to your own health, diagnosis, and treatment with your own medical provider as information in this video may not pertain to your individual and specific situation. **

[nasaihwaifadate]

I am breastfeeding my 18 month old, I had COVID with mild symptoms not vaccinated. I was breastfeeding all the time I was sick and my baby didn’t have any symptoms at all.

[michelleholland]

Would love to see a follow up with the updated data if there is additional information now. I have a 6 month old, received both doses of the vaccine while pregnant and the booster while breastfeeding, so I am curious!

[katieveatch]

Thank you for this! One question that wasn’t answered: can it be potentially harmful for my baby if I get the vaccine and continue to breastfeed? I hear you saying it could potentially be helpful and there’s not a lot of data yet, but I didn’t hear you definitively say that data shows it’s not harmful. I’d love to hear your thoughts. I’m breastfeeding a 16 month old and thinking about how to move forward as I prepare to be vaccinated in the next few months.

[amandarisdal]

I’ve had Covid while pregnant and I tested positive for antibodies 7 months later! I’m assuming my son is getting antibodies because of that, atleast I hope he is :)

[samanthakelley]

Thank you for sharing your passion for education & expertise by putting up such great content.

I'm currently on bedrest for incompetent cervix with our first & have been trying to use my time to soak in as much information as possible. I recently stumbled on your Instagram & YouTube. They have been so helpful!!!

Stay well & keeps doing what you do!

[Yassquay]

I have Covid and I’m breastfeeding. What if I still have a fever while breastfeeding my baby?

[stephaniexoxo]

What do you mean by IGA being present in beat milk

[amandajohnson]

Breastfeeding my 8 week old. We both have covid. We are getting through it. She had a major fever I just keep feeding hoping my milk will contain the antibodies She needs

[katlina]

Great video! Does freezing or refrigerating breast milk effect the IgA?

[kierstenitch]

Great information, thank you! I love to see your Rick Steves guidebooks on your shelf, I work for him! 😎

[kaitlinloyer]

This was an excellent video (as always)! I’m 32 weeks pregnant with my third baby and vaccinated. I plan on breastfeeding AND giving some pumped milk to my older children just in case it will help them with immunity. It was really interesting to hear the data we know for sure. I know that while we can’t be sure that my spiked breastmilk will help protect my kids, it won’t hurt! 🤣

[brianheath]

Our bodies are amazing. It's also so complex and a mystery. I would bet that getting covid produces more effective and efficient protection to baby through breastmilk compared to just getting a man made vaccine.

[cheapskatesnob]

Sadly the effectiveness of the vaccine info is out of date, as is ignoring natural immunity, any updates?

[maryuyeda]

This was a great presentation on IGA protection of the infant via breast milk from a vaccinated mother! However my healthy three month old Grand daughter developed high fever with respiratory distress by day 3 post vaccination. Currently hospitalized, (unable to nurse) and getting IV hydration? Since I’m a nurse, can you recommend any CDC site that may be tracking this data?

[alit]

Thank you for much for this information. I know there are many variables in play with this topic. In breastfeeding mothers who have been vaccinated or have recovered from an upper respiratory pathogen, when and for how long could we expect to see secretory IgA in the breast milk? I understand we do not have this answer for Covid because it has not been studied. I’m curious as to what typically happens with secretory IgA and what might happen with Covid. Keep up the great work!

[BIackAngel]

I will be getting the vaccine when I return to work and hope it does pass some protection for my new baby. Lol to the speed the video up because that is what I did 2x

[bmorty]

Thanks for the info! Any consideration for getting the COVID vaccine and timing around infants routine immunizations? I know they ask you if you have had a vaccine within the last 14 days as a pre-screening question for the CoVID vaccine so not sure if this would play a role in babies vaccines

[salwalker]

Disgusting and reckless. Zero long term safety studies and you’re pushing people to get this and pass on to their babies? For the love of god people do real scientific research. This woman has no idea what’s she’s talking about.

[Topicsorare]

What's is your Instagram username? Thank you.