BREAST MILK FROM INFECTED MOMS CONTAIN COVID ANTIBODIES: STUDY

Mothers who have recovered from COVID-19 may have antibodies in their breast milk, The Scientist reported.

Although there is no evidence that moms can transmit SARS-CoV-2 to infants during breastfeeding, it is unknown whether breast milk may pass on immunity to the virus, Lucy Hicks also reported for Science.

In a new study, researchers compared the breast milk of 15 lactating mothers who have recovered from COVID-19 with samples taken from other women before the pandemic.

Breast milk from the previously infected women had antibodies that specifically bound to SARS-CoV-2, whereas the pre-pandemic samples only had low levels of nonspecific or cross-reactive activity, researchers report this month in Science. The findings provide evidence that breastfeeding through the pandemic is safe, scientists say, and could potentially transmit protective antibodies to babies.