Becoming a new parent has always been a period of heightened emotions and uncertainty. During the Covid-19 crisis, parents-to-be and new parents face unique challenges, increasing feelings of uncertainty and worry.
We know that this is an unsettling time, especially if you’re raising or about to bring a little one into the world. That’s why we have carefully collected and consolidated research from reputable sources to help provide some guidance on how to protect your baby—and you—during the pandemic.
For pregnant women, a top priority is staying healthy during the pandemic. Expectant mothers are safeguarding not only their health, but the health of their unborn child.
Unfortunately, experts do not fully understand if pregnant women are at a greater risk of Covid-19 infection or complications. The limited data to date suggests that pregnant women are at a similar risk as other adults. However, women who are pregnant have a greater chance of severe illness with viruses in the same family as the novel coronavirus.
The reason that pregnant women are more prone to severe illness is that pregnancy causes several changes in the body—including changes to the immune system. These changes increase the severity of respiratory infections from viruses like influenza and potentially Covid-19.
Keeping this in mind, it’s important for pregnant woman to protect themselves from the Covid-19 virus and other illnesses. To do this, practice good hygiene and take care of your body.
How you live impacts your immune function. Our immune health is a central component of our defense against the novel coronavirus and other infections.
When you eat healthily, exercise regularly, and practice relaxation techniques, you strengthen your immune system.
Families should be on the lookout for early symptoms of Covid-19. When you identify the virus early, you reduce your chances of passing it to your family or community. Symptoms of the novel coronavirus include:
If you suspect that you or anyone else in your family might have Covid-19, call your doctor for advice. The best next-steps can change from one day to the next, so speaking with a healthcare professional is a must.
The best defense against the novel coronavirus is to limit your chances of getting sick. To protect yourself:
If you’re experiencing any of the Covid-19 symptoms above, contact your local doctor or healthcare facility immediately. Inform them if you are pregnant, as this may influence their advice. Your local medical professionals can guide you on what you should do. This may or may not include testing.
Scientists are still researching if vertical transmission—from mom to baby during pregnancy and labor—is possible. To date, experts have not found Covid-19 in breast milk, amniotic fluid, or the umbilical cord blood. Therefore, experts don’t believe that your unborn baby is at risk of contracting the virus were you to get sick.
Among newborns who tested positive for Covid-19, doctors could not determine if they contracted the virus before or after birth. The newborns may have contracted the virus through person-to-person contact post-birth.
Work with your obstetrician or midwife to determine where and how to give birth. Where you live and your individual preference influence what’s right for you. Both C-section and vaginal delivery are considered viable options during the pandemic. For some, this includes natural childbirth at home.
Breast milk is the best food for baby. It contains all of the nutrients your infant needs for healthy development, including that of their immune system.
Breast milk protects baby against diseases and infections. In the wake of Covid-19, the immune-boosting properties of breast milk make breastfeeding even more important.
Experts currently recommend for moms with the novel coronavirus to continue breastfeeding if they wish to. Studies have not detected Covid-19 in breast milk (although further research is needed to confirm this pattern). And if you take the right precautions, baby can safely enjoy its immune-boosting benefits.
If you decide to breastfeed your baby when you have the novel coronavirus, talk to your doctor for current recommendations. As of today, experts recommend following certain hygiene guidelines.
For moms who feel well, wash your hands and breasts with soap and water for 20 seconds or more directly before breastfeeding. Wear a mask when feeding baby for further protection.
If you’re feeling unwell, you can express milk. Follow the same steps as you would for breastfeeding directly. Additionally:
A robust immune system is the first line of defense against any infection, including the novel coronavirus. Therefore, pregnant women and new moms should eat healthy food and take the recommended supplements for optimal immune health.
Following is a list of micronutrients that are especially valuable in supporting immune health, along with foods high in these nutrients.
In addition to eating plenty of whole foods, it’s advisable to cut down on refined foods and sugars.
There are some foods that are healthy in some cases, but not in others. Fish and organ meats can be both beneficial and dangerous for pregnant woman.
Fish, such as salmon, are a rich source of vitamins and minerals. However, there are certain types of fish that pregnant woman should avoid or limit. When it comes to fish, pregnant woman should limit their consumption of fish high in mercury to 1-2 times per month max. Mercury consumption can be dangerous for your unborn baby. Some of the popular high-mercury fish include:
Additionally, avoid raw fish and shellfish completely. Parasites found within are unsafe when pregnant.
Organ meats are another food rich in nutrients but unsafe in large quantities. Because high levels of copper and vitamin A are dangerous, only eat organ meat once per week maximum.
Best feeding practices for infants and toddlers remain the same as before the start of this pandemic. However, with the looming threat of a new virus, it’s more important than ever to start right.
With the right feeding plan, you boost baby’s immunity and reduce baby’s risk of diet-related illnesses. From breastfeeding to a veggies-first approach, you want to ensure that your baby is getting balanced nutrition and building a healthy palate.
For in-depth details on the best way to support optimal nutrition during the first two years of your baby’s life, check out Baby’s Good Feeding Guide.
Disclaimer: The information provided is the opinion of Good Feeding, it has not been evaluated by healthcare professionals, and is for educational purposes only. Before starting any new foods or feeding practices, please consult your baby's healthcare professional.
As parents, we all want to do what's best for our babies, infants, and children. So, it can be more than a little concerning with the news that our family's youngest members could be at risk from the very thing meant to nurture us all – food.
4 months of age signals the start of an exciting window of opportunity, that if taken advantage of has the ability to not only transform your parenting journey (and family mealtimes) going forward, but more importantly, your child’s health and wellness potentials for life. 4 months marks the important opportunity to start ‘Flavour Training’!
In the medical community, there's a clear consensus on when infants should begin complementary feeding: at 6 months old. But despite the AAP, ACOG, AAFP and WHO recommendations being very clear about this timeline, parents often start much earlier.
The primary reason that official guidelines push for this 6 month mark is that very early introduction of complementary foods has been shown to reduce breastfeeding's overall duration. The medical community also holds concerns that introducing solids prior to the age of 6 months could increase the risk of choking and aspiration, lead to diarrhea and poor gut health and contribute to the onset of certain chronic diseases later in life, including diabetes and celiac disease.
So why is there so much confusion over this?
Starting solids poses such a challenge because we’re not only trying to sort through all of the available information and opinions on the topic, but also fit a brand new feeding and food preparation routine into our already busy lives. And, in the hustle to get this done, we often forget the most important element of introducing our children to food: Helping them foster a healthy relationship with food for life.