5:00 PM
Friday 01 January 2021
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I wrote – Hind Khalifa
A nursing mother lives in a state of fear for her baby in light of the Coronavirus pandemic, especially if she is a carrier of the virus or is suspected of being infected, from transmitting the infection to him, because she is forced to deal with it all the time, according to research, children under the age of one year are more at risk of developing severe symptoms of the Coronavirus in Infection status compared to older children, possibly because their immunity is not fully mature, and because their airways are smaller, which makes them more vulnerable to respiratory problems in the event of infection with respiratory viruses.
On this matter, the site “onlymyhealth” provided a set of advice for breastfeeding mothers to take care of their newborns during the Corona pandemic, especially if they are carrying the virus or are suspected of being infected.
Breastfeeding
It is undeniable that breastfeeding provides significant health benefits for newborns and infants, improves the immune competence of newborns and reduces the risk of other major diseases and sepsis.
But it is important to emphasize the strict precautions for hand hygiene and wearing a three-layer mask by the mother, and to be keen on breastfeeding as much as possible because it helps build the child’s immunity and resistance to infection, and if the mother is breastfeeding her child or extracting milk from her hands, she must wash her hands before touching any bottle.
The residence of the newborn with the mother
Early and close contact between mother and newborn has many long-standing benefits. Caring for healthy premature newborns while in hospital is called “rooming,” and current evidence indicates that the risk of newborns contracting SARS-COV-2 from the mother is low, if The mother ensures hand hygiene, wears a face mask, and the baby is at least 6 feet away when not feeding.
Social distancing
It is the best way to protect a child from COVID-19 If you are passionate about showing your child to everyone, you can use social media apps such as Skype, WhatsApp video call, Facebook video call, FaceTime or Zoom.Let the people already in your home touch your child only
Avoid taking him outside
After washing or cleaning hands properly, avoid taking the child outside so that he is not exposed to the virus in any way, shopping for groceries or other things online.
Use a mask instead of a plastic child’s shield
In caring for newborns during COVID-19, mothers should wear a face mask, but plastic shields are not recommended for children, so the mask should not be applied to newborns, and separation may be necessary for mothers who are too ill to care for their newborn, too. Separation may be required in newborns who are at high risk of developing severe disease – eg, preterm infants, low birth weight infants, etc.
Good hygiene
Cover your mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing, and always make sure that anyone entering your home is sterilizing themselves properly and wearing a mask at all times.
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