Covid 19 is a global pandemic that has affected more than 300 million people. We all took a sigh of relief when the vaccination for covid 19 got available for everyone. People who were more vulnerable to this pandemic were vaccinated first but, what about the nursing and pregnant women?
The effect of covid 19 vaccination on pregnant and nursing mothers was a hot topic for research.
With the growing number of studies, we have concluded that it is a safe option for every pregnant, trying to get pregnant, a nursing mother, and everyone above 18 years of age.
Read further to learn the effect of covid 19 vaccination on nursing mother and their child. We will also cover the side effects of vaccination and ways to subside them.
Should nursing mothers get vaccinated?
Pregnant and nursing mothers have a higher chance of getting ill from covid-19.
It can result in hospitalization, need for a ventilator, or illness causing death.
So if you are a nursing mother, please get vaccinated as soon as possible. Covid 19 vaccinations don’t have a live virus and, it doesn’t cause covid 19 infection in pregnant women or their child.
Covid 19 vaccinations protect the mothers and their infants from coronavirus.
According to the University of Massachusetts Amherst research, nursing mothers pass antibodies to their infants via breast milk. It provides the children with passive protection from covid 19.
“This research is the first to detect SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in stool samples from infants of vaccinated mothers, “Says the lead author Vignesh Narayanaswamy.
This research has busted so many myths regarding breastfeeding and covid-19. It has also convinced mothers to continue their lactation journey after getting vaccinated.
The research also shows the positive impact of breast milk on children of all ages. The stool samples showed the presence of antibodies in children from 1.5 months to 23 months old.
What to expect after vaccination?
Like all medicines covid 19 vaccine also has side effects. These are mild in nature and might not happen to everyone. They usually subside by one or two days.
Some of the common side effects are:
- Have pain and tenderness at the arm where you had the injection.
- Having a headache, body aches, and chills.
- Feeling tired.
In rare cases, people have also felt a swelling in armpit glands or blood clotting. If you think that your side effects are not subsiding after a week, it is good to consult a doctor.
How to deal with the side effects?
As a nursing mother, you have to be cautious about the side effects and their impact on your health. If you feel the side effects, you can do the following things:
- Take a pain killer like paracetamol after consulting your doctor.
- Take rest as much as you can.
- Improve your water intake (since dehydration can lower your milk supply.)
- Have a healthy diet to have enough strength to feed your child.
Seek medical help if the following symptoms persist after a week
- A headache that won’t go away even from medicines.
- Blurred vision, nausea, and vomiting.
- Weakness drowsiness and seizures.
- Shortness of breath and chest pain.
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Precautionary steps for nursing mothers:
As a nursing mother, you should be very careful while dealing with your child. You must keep yourself and the house clean so that your baby can be protected.
Here are a few safety guidelines to keep in mind:
- If you feel like you have any respiratory issues like shortness of breath, it is advisable to wear a mask when you feed your child.
- Thoroughly wash your hands before and after you have come in contact with your baby.
- Try to keep your home sanitized and clean.
- If you can’t feed your child to being severely ill due to covid 19 or any other reason, try to express milk.
- If you cannot pump or nurse your child, you can opt for other options like:
- Relactation (starting breastfeeding after a gap)
- Wet-nursing (asking any other woman to feed your child)
- Human donor milk.
- Avoid touching your face unnecessarily.
- Always keep a hand sanitizer with you and use it when needed.
- Limit your social gatherings and try to stay at home as much as possible.
The effectiveness of covid 19 vaccination:
It is a common misconception that vaccinations provide you with 100 % protection against covid 19 and, you do not need to follow the safety guidelines.
No medicine and vaccination can provide you with 100% protection. It is good to follow the safety precautions to protect yourself and your child from covid 19.
The efficiency of the covid 19 vaccination strongly depends on your precaution and social distancing.
No vaccination can protect you from this ongoing pandemic. You have to be cautious and take all the necessary measures for protection.
The vaccination can
- lower the risk of getting covid 19. As mentioned earlier, like all medicines, it is not 100% effective.
- Even if you are vaccinated, you can still get covid 19 but, the severity will be very low.
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Can a covid-19 infected mother nurse her child?
Let’s talk Breastfeeding and Covid-19 Vaccination. Breastfeeding is the ultimate source of nutrition that your child needs. The world health organization encourages mothers to breastfeed their children even if they get infected from covid-19.
Mothers should keep in mind that the benefits of breastfeeding are way more than the risk of transmitting the coronavirus via breast milk.
Transmission of Covid-19 via breastmilk is a misconception and, there is no proper evidence that supports it.
World health organization also recommends that the mother and the child stay in the same room. They must have skin-to-skin contact even if one of them has Covid-19.
Final words:
Breastmilk is the best source of nutrition for your child. It strengthens the immunity of infants.
If you are a nursing other, please get vaccinated as soon as possible since vaccinations are totally safe for nursing mothers.
Even if after getting vaccinated you are diagnosed with covid 19, please make sure to continue breastfeeding as it has no harmful effect on the child.
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