Breastfeeding Behavior Within the Covid-19 Related Obstetric and Neonatal Outcome Study (CRONOS)
Research output: Contribution to journal › Research article › Contributed › peer-review
Contributors
Abstract
Background: The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic and its influence on peripartum processes worldwide led to issues in breastfeeding support. Research Aim: The aim of this study was to describe breastfeeding behavior and peripartum in-hospital management during the pandemic in Germany and Austria. Methods: This study was a descriptive study using a combination of secondary longitudinal data and a cross-sectional online survey. Registry data from the prospective multicenter COVID-19 Related Obstetric and Neonatal Outcome Study (CRONOS) cohort study (longitudinal, medical records of 1,815 parent-neonate pairs with confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection during pregnancy) and a cross-sectional online survey of CRONOS hospitals’ physicians (N = 67) were used for a descriptive comparison of feeding outcomes and postpartum management. Results: In 93.7% (n = 1700) of the cases in which information on the neonate's diet was provided, feeding was with the mother’s own milk. Among neonates not receiving their mother’s own milk, 24.3% (n = 26) reported SARS-CoV-2 infection as the reason. Peripartum maternal SARS-CoV-2 infection, severe maternal COVID-19 including the need for intensive care unit (ICU) treatment or invasive ventilation, preterm birth, mandatory delivery due to COVID-19, and neonatal ICU admission were associated with lower rates of breastfeeding. Rooming-in positively influenced breastfeeding without affecting neonatal SARS-CoV-2 frequency (4.2% vs. 5.6%). CRONOS hospitals reported that feeding an infant their mother’s own milk continued to be supported during the pandemic. In cases of severe COVID-19, four of five hospitals encouraged breastfeeding. Conclusion: Maintaining rooming-in and breastfeeding support services in the CRONOS hospitals during the pandemic resulted in high breastfeeding rates.
Details
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 625-635 |
Number of pages | 11 |
Journal | Journal of human lactation |
Volume | 39 |
Issue number | 4 |
Publication status | Published - 15 Sept 2023 |
Peer-reviewed | Yes |
External IDs
PubMed | 37712573 |
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Keywords
ASJC Scopus subject areas
Keywords
- Austria, COVID-19, CRONOS Registry, Germany, SARS-CoV-2, breastfeeding, lactation management, mother’s milk feeding, pregnancy, prospective cohort, Prospective Studies, Premature Birth, Cross-Sectional Studies, Humans, Breast Feeding, Infant, Pregnancy, COVID-19/epidemiology, Female, Outcome Assessment, Health Care, Infant, Newborn, Cohort Studies