TUGUEGARAO CITY, Cagayan (PIA) - - Mothers should continue the exclusive breastfeeding of their babies even if they are positive with Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19), the Department of Health (DOH) Region 2 said.

Nerissa Mabbayad, nutritionist and dietician, said that a child must be exclusively breastfed from birth to six months and it should be continued amid the pandemic.

"There are no reports nor studies stating that breastfeeding is risky when a mother is infected with COVID-19. The mother can still do it with the observance of proper protocols and hygiene like the use of facemasks and faceshields, and hand washing before carrying the baby," she said. 

She confirmed that there were some mothers, and mothers-and-children infected with COVID-19, but there are no reports of mortality due to the virus in the region.  

"When both are infected, the mother should continue breastfeeding her baby even if they are in an isolation facility. If only the mother is infected, she must device means to breastfeed her child such as expressing her milk to be fed to the child," Mabbayad stated. 

Mabbayad further said that it is more important to breastfeed a child exclusively during the pandemic in order for them to sustain the natural antibodies needed to fight the virus infection. 

On the other hand, she also advised expectant mothers to continue their scheduled pre-natal check-ups to monitor the status of their pregnancy and find out potential concerns early to reduce the risks of pregnancy and birth complications. 

"If they cannot visit clinics and hospitals due to travel restrictions and health protocols, they can just visit their health centers so that their pre-natal check up routines will still continue," Mabbayad said. 

She also reminded parents to observe and ensure the good health and nutrition of their babies in their first 1000 days. (MDCT/JKC/OTB/PIA Cagayan)