Breastfeeding promotion during the COVID-19 pandemic in northeastern Brazil

  • Brena Carvalho Pinto de Melo, MD, PhD Instituto de Medicina Integral Prof. Fernando Figueira (IMIP) & Faculdade Pernambucana de Saúde (FPS)
  • Glaucia Virgínia de Queiroz Lins Guerra, MD, PhD Instituto de Medicina Integral Prof. Fernando Figueira (IMIP)
  • Judith Correa, MD Instituto de Medicina Integral Prof. Fernando Figueira (IMIP)
  • Dafne Barcala, MD, MsC Instituto de Medicina Integral Prof. Fernando Figueira (IMIP);
  • Leila Katz, MD, PhD Instituto de Medicina Integral Prof. Fernando Figueira (IMIP)
  • Vilneide Maria Santos Braga Diégues Serva, MD, MsC Instituto de Medicina Integral Prof. Fernando Figueira (IMIP)
DOI: https://doi.org/10.26596/wn.202213257-61
Keywords: COVID-19, breastfeeding, delivery, delivery rooms, postpartum period

Abstract

Early COVID-19 delivery room reports routinely described maternal and neonatal physical distancing, in both confirmed or suspected cases. Immediately, breastfeeding experts expressed their concern for the potential catastrophic consequences of such separation, with great potential for breastfeeding discontinuity, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. In this manuscript, we report a positive experience of early breastfeeding promotion and maintenance in labour and delivery room, from the time of the first cases of COVID-19, confirmed or suspected, at a Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative (BFHI) and tertiary teaching hospital in Recife, in the northeastern region of Brazil.

Author Biographies

Brena Carvalho Pinto de Melo, MD, PhD, Instituto de Medicina Integral Prof. Fernando Figueira (IMIP) & Faculdade Pernambucana de Saúde (FPS)

Coordinator Dr Luiz Carlos Santos High Risk Pregnancy Ward, Centro de Atenção à Mulher (CAM), Instituto de Medicina Integral Prof. Fernando Figueira (IMIP); Coordinator of the Simulation Center (CSim), Faculdade Pernambucana de Saúde (FPS); Recife, Brazil.

Glaucia Virgínia de Queiroz Lins Guerra, MD, PhD, Instituto de Medicina Integral Prof. Fernando Figueira (IMIP)

General Coordinator Centro de Atenção à Mulher (CAM), Instituto de Medicina Integral Prof. Fernando Figueira (IMIP); Recife, Brazil

Judith Correa, MD, Instituto de Medicina Integral Prof. Fernando Figueira (IMIP)

Assistant Coordinator Centro de Atenção à Mulher (CAM), Instituto de Medicina Integral Prof. Fernando Figueira (IMIP); Recife, Brazil.

Dafne Barcala, MD, MsC, Instituto de Medicina Integral Prof. Fernando Figueira (IMIP);

Neonatologist. Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Centro de Atenção à Mulher (CAM), Instituto de Medicina Integral Prof. Fernando Figueira (IMIP); Recife, Brazil.

Leila Katz, MD, PhD, Instituto de Medicina Integral Prof. Fernando Figueira (IMIP)

Coordinator Obstetrics Intensive Care Unit, Centro de Atenção à Mulher (CAM), Instituto de Medicina Integral Prof. Fernando Figueira (IMIP); Recife, Brazil.

Vilneide Maria Santos Braga Diégues Serva, MD, MsC, Instituto de Medicina Integral Prof. Fernando Figueira (IMIP)

Pediatrician. Coordinator Human Milk Bank, Instituto de Medicina Integral Prof. Fernando Figueira (IMIP); Recife, Brazil.

Published
2022-06-30
Issue
Vol 13 No 2 (2022)
Section
Letters to the editor
Copyright (c) 2022 Brena Carvalho Pinto de Melo, MD, PhD, Glaucia Virgínia de Queiroz Lins Guerra, MD, PhD, Judith Correa, MD, Dafne Barcala, MD, MsC, Leila Katz, MD, PhD, Vilneide Maria Santos Braga Diégues Serva, MD, MsC

Authors retain all copyrights. In making a submission to World Nutrition, they are certifying that all material is theirs except quotations, as indicated, and that they have obtained permission for any photos, tables, or graphics taken from other publications or websites.