Relationship Between Maternal COVID-19 Infection and In-Hospital Exclusive Breastfeeding for Term Newborns

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the relationship between maternal COVID-19 infection and the odds of in-hospital exclusive breastfeeding for term newborns.

Design: Retrospective descriptive quantitative.

Setting: A large, urban hospital with more than 6,000 births annually.

Sample: Term newborns born between March 1, 2020, and March 31, 2021 (N = 6,151).

Methods: We retrospectively extracted data from electronic health records to evaluate the relationship of maternal COVID-19 infection with the odds of in-hospital exclusive breastfeeding using univariate analysis and logistic regression models. The covariates included insurance type, race/ethnicity, glucose gel administration, length of stay, newborn gestational age, newborn birth weight, and maternal COVID-19 infection.

Results: Maternal COVID-19 infection was not significantly related to the odds of in-hospital exclusive breastfeeding (p = .138) after adjustment for covariates in the logistic regression model. However, when newborns who received pasteurized donor human milk supplementation were excluded from the logistic regression model, maternal COVID-19 infection significantly decreased the odds of in-hospital exclusive breastfeeding (p = .043).

Conclusion: Maternal COVID-19 infection was not significantly related to the odds of in-hospital exclusive breastfeeding when newborns received donor human milk supplementation. Access to donor human milk for supplementation for term newborns may protect the odds of in-hospital exclusive breastfeeding.

Keywords: COVID-19; breastfeeding; human milk; human milk banks; lactation; maternal health; newborn; pandemic; postpartum period.