Is the Covid 19 Vaccine Safe to Take While Breastfeeding/Chestfeeding?

Let me start off by saying that I don’t want this to turn into a vax/anti-vax conversation.  Whether you choose to vaccinate yourself and your family is a completely personal decision and one that is really none of our business.  

That being said, many of our clients have reached out to us this week to ask if the covid vaccine is safe for them to get while breastfeeding/chestfeeding.  Our goal is to share the most recent information about the vaccine, provided by medical professionals, so that you and your family can make an educated decision on what you would like to do.

So, what do we know about this vaccine, with reference to lactating parents?  

Honestly, not much.  

• Since this vaccine is so new (and fast-tracked with limited clinical trials), it has not been tested on pregnant or lactating parents.  

• According to Mother to Baby CA, the Covid vaccine is an mRNA vaccine, which means that it doesn’t contain the live virus. ‘The mRNA vaccine works by telling cells in the body to create harmless fragments (small pieces) of the virus that causes COVID-19. These fragments cannot cause COVID-19. However, they trigger an immune response in the body that helps make antibodies against the virus.’

• According to the CDC, ‘There are no data on the safety of COVID-19 vaccines in lactating women or on the effects of mRNA vaccines on the breastfed infant or on milk production/excretion. mRNA vaccines are not thought to be a risk to the breastfeeding infant. People who are breastfeeding and are part of a group recommended to receive a COVID-19 vaccine, such as healthcare personnel, may choose to be vaccinated.’

• According to the Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine, ‘there is little biological plausibility that the vaccine will cause harm, and antibodies to SARS-CoV-2 in milk may protect the breastfeeding child…. During lactation, it is unlikely that the vaccine lipid would enter the blood stream and reach breast tissue. If it does, it is even less likely that either the intact nanoparticle or mRNA transfer into milk. In the unlikely event that mRNA is present in milk, it would be expected to be digested by the child and would be unlikely to have any biological effects.’ They go on to say that,’Antibodies and T-cells stimulated by the vaccine may passively transfer into milk. Following vaccination against other viruses, IgA antibodies are detectable in milk within 5 to 7 days. Antibodies transferred into milk may therefore protect the infant from infection with SARS-CoV-2.’

So, with this lack of specific research on the Covid 19 vaccine, it is recommended that you speak with your healthcare provider to go over the pros/cons of taking the vaccine while breastfeeding/chestfeeding, based on your risk of possible exposure to the virus, your health history, and your child’s health history.

And, please continue to follow the CDC guidelines for preventing the spread of covid:

• Wear a mask

• Stay at least 6 feet away from others

• Wash your hands with soap and water for 20 seconds or using hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol

Stay safe! We will update our website with information as it becomes available.

What Happens During a Virtual Breastfeeding Consultation?

Since COVID-19 has sent all of us to ‘shelter in place’, we are getting asked so many questions about our virtual consultations.  Parents want to know what happens during a virtual breastfeeding consultation and how it can be helpful.

So, I wanted to take this opportunity to answer some questions we have been getting about our virtual consultations and explain all that we can accomplish during one.

Let’s get into the questions!

Can a lactation consultant actually help with breastfeeding without being in the same room?

100% yes!  We are total ninjas when it comes to this!  Our ‘detective’ skills and ability to see the whole picture help us understand your situation and concerns even when we can only see each other through our phones/computers!

What happens at a virtual breastfeeding consultation?

Here is how it works at SDBFC

Before your appointment:

1. We send you a video on how to do an oral assessment on your child.  This is how we check for tongue and lip ties and how everything is working in your baby’s mouth.  You can either record yourself doing this assessment on your kiddo and then send it to us before your appt (the preferred method) or we can walk you through this assessment during your consultation.

2. You fill out an intake form so that we have all of your background information and feeding history before we even meet.

During your appointment:

1. We discuss your baby’s oral assessment - which looks at suck, tongue range of motion, and overall oral structure

2. We watch your baby latch and breastfeed, offering advice on positioning and latch, while demonstrating these techniques with our lovely baby dolls.

3. We discuss milk supply and ways to make sure that your baby is getting enough

4. We can help with pumping and flange sizing

5. We co-create a personalized plan of care to help you meet your personal feeding goals.

What type of equipment do I need and is it helpful to have a support person nearby during the consult?

• We use Google Hangouts Meet (HIPAA compliant), so you just need your phone.  A phone is better than a computer because it allows us to get up close to your baby while we are assessing positioning, latch, and sucking rhythm.

• It can be VERY helpful to have a support person with you so that you can just focus on latching/feeding your baby and have someone else hold the phone for you.  Also, partner/family support is more crucial than ever now that we don’t have access to in-person support groups and consultations. Your partner will be included in the conversation and tips will be provided so that they can assist and support you with the feeding process.

How can a lactation consultant assess for tongue tie without putting her fingers in my baby’s mouth?

You actually get to do the oral assessment on your child while either recording a video to send to us, during your consult, or both!  This is actually really awesome because you get to feel what the lactation consultant would normally feel, helping you better understand how your child’s tongue is functioning… either at max capacity or with room for improvement!  We will look for how your baby’s tongue lateralizes, lifts, maintains suction, extends, and cups your finger. We will also view what his/her tongue frenulum and upper lip frenulum look like.

How can a lactation consultant help with positioning and latch during a virtual consult?

Using a baby doll, we can demonstrate positioning techniques, if you need guidance.  Once we evaluate your baby’s latch, we can use verbal recommendations and visuals (such as YouTube videos) to demonstrate how to help your baby achieve a wide latch.

I prefer to learn in-person.  How can I learn from someone without being in the same room?

We feel the same way!  We would prefer to offer an in-person breastfeeding consultation when given the choice.  We thrive while sharing space with a family while working with them. We miss our in-person consultations soooooo much!  Unfortunately, lack of access to PPE has required us to temporarily suspend in-person consultations provided by the San Diego Breastfeeding Center. So, we all have had to fine-tune our assessment and counseling skills to meet your needs and hopefully we will change your mind about learning from someone via the interwebs :-) 

How can we tell if my baby is getting enough without a lactation consultant’s scale?

Now, that is the one downside to virtual consults.  No scale to weigh your baby before and after a feeding.  So, we have to watch your baby carefully while feeding. We will look for jaw movement, suck/swallow ratios, stamina while feeding, and other indicators for milk transfer.  We also might recommend renting a scale from the hospital for weighted feedings for a few days (since there are no in-person support groups to gather this data.) OR you might consider purchasing a scale from Amazon just to track your baby’s weight for a few days, which will give us the information we need to know if your baby is getting enough over a 24 hour period. Also we will be very conservative in our recommendations for supplementation with pumped milk and/or formula.  We will make sure that we do everything we can to ensure that your baby is thriving while we work on the feeding details.

Should I just wait until the ‘shelter in place’ has been lifted so I can meet with a lactation consultant in person?

Definitely not!  Breastfeeding is not fun when it hurts or feels confusing.  We don’t want you to second guess yourself, especially during the heightened pandemic stress we are all under.  With possible formula shortages on the horizon, we want to help you solve your breastfeeding challenges ASAP, as well as be a resource when other feeding questions arise.

So, does that help?

Remember, we accept Aetna PPO, Tricare, and UCSD HMOs. Also, we have an amazing sliding scale, so if our cash prices are a deterrent, please call our office (619-724-4117) so that we can offer you a sliding scale rate.  

What other questions do you have about our virtual breastfeeding consultations?  I would be happy to answer them for you!

Breastfeeding During the Covid-19 Pandemic

Covid-19 has caused an unprecedented change in how we as lactation consultants are able to support breastfeeding families.  It seems like every day there is new information and new recommendations for breastfeeding parents on what is considered safe when breastfeeding during this pandemic.  We just don’t have enough information about this novel coronavirus. Research is being conducted everyday to help guide these new protocols for breastfeeding families.  The constant change in recommendations is based on whatever new information doctors and specialists feel creates the safest environment for families, but feels confusing both to us as lactation consultants and as parents.  

So, here is what we at SDBFC can do for you. 

We can direct you to the most current information and recommendations for breastfeeding during Covid-19 on our new webpage.  We can sift through the complicated language and summarize how this impacts you as a breastfeeding family. My plan is to update our website whenever there is a change in recommendations for breastfeeding families, so that you don’t have to hunt down this information yourself. 

You have enough to do. Let us help lighten the load.

Please, keep in mind….I am not an epidemiologist or physician.  I am definitely not an expert on Covid-19. I am an IBCLC who has been collecting information through webinars and websites, like the CDC, WHO, Mother to Baby, ABM, AAP, USBC, and CBC to share the best resources for you and your family when making a decision about breastfeeding during Covid-19.

With limited in-person monitoring of infants by healthcare providers, breastfeeding support from an IBCLC is critical to make sure that a parent’s milk supply is meeting baby’s needs and that baby is feeding well to promote optimal growth and development.  Virtual consultations with an IBCLC will provide breastfeeding parents with the information and guidance they need to provide breastmilk to their children.  

If you or someone you know is pregnant, let them know about our virtual Preparing to Breastfeed class.  We are offering if every 2 weeks, since all in-person breastfeeding classes has been cancelled.  And it is LIVE and super interactive! You don’t even have to live in San Diego to participate!

If you or someone you know is struggling with breastfeeding, sign up for one of our virtual breastfeeding consultations.  You would be shocked at all we can accomplish through videoconferencing and we will make sure that you have someone to rely on for infant feeding support until you can meet with your pediatrician or an IBCLC in person.

Wishing you and your family good health and safety! Please know we are here to support you in any way that we can!

Warmly,

Robin Kaplan, Owner of the San Diego Breastfeeding Center

Lactation Support during COVID 19 - Let's Get Virtual!

With new Shelter in Place restrictions, the San Diego Breastfeeding Center has decided that it will be safer for our staff and our clients if we all stay at home.

So, starting today, our physical space is temporarily closed, but our virtual space is WIDE OPEN! We are doing everything we can to provide the same high-quality, judgment-free breastfeeding support that we have offered in person for the past 10 years… just DIGITALLY.

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Virtual Breastfeeding Consultations

For those of you looking for an individual breastfeeding consultation from an expert IBCLC, book one of our VIRTUAL BREASTFEEDING CONSULTATIONS. You’d be shocked on all we can accomplish without being in the same room!

Each virtual breastfeeding consultation includes an oral assessment on your baby (Yep! We can do those virtually!), positioning and latch assessment/recommendations, milk supply/sore nipple remedies, and a personalized plan of care. We can also do prenatal consultations and pump flange fittings, as we do these virtually all of the time!

As always, all appointments come with 2 weeks of free email support. And, we can still bill your insurance (Tricare and Aetna PPO) and have our sliding scale for those families with financial needs. If our appointments do not fit within your budget due to financial constraints, PLEASE call our office to find out the rate on our sliding scale!

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Virtual Breastfeeding Support Groups

For those of you who love support groups and are looking to stay connected with other breastfeeding parents while getting some breastfeeding help along the way, pop into one of our VIRTUAL BREASTFEEDING SUPPORT GROUPS! Our community of local IBCLCs are hosting a free meeting, Monday-Friday, from noon-1pm. Click on this calendar link, choose the day, and then ask to Join Hangouts Meet.

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Virtual Prenatal Breastfeeding Classes

For those expectant parents wanting to prepare for breastfeeding without an in-person class to go to, check out our VIRTUAL PREPARING TO BREASTFEED CLASS. Taught LIVE by Robin Kaplan, owner of the San Diego Breastfeeding Center (and author of LATCH), this class will get you excited about breastfeeding! From latch and positioning to preventing common breastfeeding concerns, Robin helps you and your partner prepare a breastfeeding plan that works best for your family. Facts and myths will be addressed as you get the tools and resources you need to confidently start your breastfeeding journey.

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Don’t let breastfeeding challenges exacerbate during COVID19. Please reach out for help! We are here to support you along your breastfeeding journey and want to do everything we can to help make this part of your life a little bit easier!

What SDBFC is doing to protect you and your family during COVID-19

As social distancing and worldwide quarantines are affecting us all during the coronavirus crisis, the staff at the San Diego Breastfeeding Center is doing everything we can to continue to provide support for breastfeeding families.  Your family’s health and well-being (as well as our’s) is our top priority. Here is what you can expect for the next few weeks.

Classes and Support Groups

1. Group classes are either cancelled or will be offered virtually.  Please visit our website for an updated calendar.

2. We are partnering with several local lactation consultants to offer virtual breastfeeding support groups through Google Hangouts Meet.  Here is the schedule (starting on Wed March 18):

   1. Monday: 12p-1p (hosted by Rachelle Markham)

   2. Tuesday: 12p-1p (hosted by Dawn Dickerson)

   3. Wednesday: 12p-1p (hosted by Robin Kaplan)

   4. Thursday: 12p-1p (hosted by Rachael Oeffner)

   5. Friday: 12p-1p (hosted by Ashley Tehrani)

To attend one of our virtual breastfeeding support groups, please go to our calendar for details and a link to each daily virtual support group. We will also make an announcement with all of the details on our Facebook and Instagram, as well.

In-person Lactation Consultations

Prior to the visit

1. We screen all of our patients a day before the visit via text. In case of a confirmation of possible symptoms of a respiratory infection, a virtual visit will be offered instead via a HIPAA-compliant telemedicine platform.

2. We thoroughly clean and disinfect all our supplies using CDC-approved disinfectants before every visit. We also disinfect our phones/computers before and after each visit using alcohol wipes.

3. We take our temperature every morning to make sure that we do not have a fever.  If we or someone in our household is sick, we will reschedule your appointment.

During the in-person visit

1. Upon arrival, you will be asked screening questions before we can begin the consultation.

2. We alway clean our hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.  

3. Throughout the visit, we will use gloves every time we touch you and your baby. 

4. When weighing your baby, we will use a disposable chux pad to place on the disinfected scale. You can use your own receiving blanket, if preferred.

5. We ask that you bring your own breastfeeding pillows, if you are using one.  We will not have pillows to use in our clinic.

6. We are staggering our office appointments so that no one will sit in the waiting room.

7. We will minimize our physical contact with you and your baby throughout the consult, unless we are doing a physical/oral assessment

8. For in-office consultations, we ask that you leave siblings at home, if at all possible.

9. If we are seeing you in your own home, we ask that only household members are in the home during the consultation.

Virtual consultation options

1. For anyone who would prefer a virtual consultation, you can book one of these through our website.  While these are slightly less-comprehensive, as we are not able to assess milk transfer, they are a wonderful option during this social distancing time.  Through virtual consultations,  we can provide guidance on how to maintain your milk supply and baby weight gain, optimize position and latch, and co-create a temporary plan of care until we can see you in person.  

2. It can be very helpful to have a second adult around during the virtual consult, as you will be walked through how to do an oral assessment with your child.