I have COVID-19. Is it safe to keep breastfeeding my baby? –Natasha Coronavirus has not been found in breast milk. But if you have COVID-19, you could spread the virus to your infant through tiny droplets that spread when you talk, cough, or sneeze. Talk to your doctor to help decide whether you should continue to breastfeed. Your breast milk is the best nutrition for your baby and can protect against many illnesses. While you are sick, you (or someone else) can give your baby expressed breast milk. If you choose to breastfeed or give expressed milk in a bottle, to help prevent spreading the virus to your baby: Wash your hands before and after touching your baby. Wear a mask while nursing. Wash your hands before touching your breast pump or bottle parts. Clean all parts after each use. Let someone else in your household who is not sick give your baby your expressed breast milk. Try to limit close face-to-face contact with your baby, and cough or sneeze into a tissue (and then throw it away). When you aren't feeding your baby, you should try to stay at least 6 feet away from your baby as much as possible. Call your health care provider if you're feeling unwell with COVID-19 symptoms. These may include: fever cough trouble breathing cold symptoms such as a sore throat, congestion, or runny nose chills muscle pain headache a loss of taste or smell nausea or vomiting diarrhea tiredness Also call right away if your baby has a fever or trouble breathing, or seems sick. Where Can I Get Updated Information on Coronavirus (COVID-19)? Check the CDC website for up-to-date, reliable information about coronavirus. Back to Articles Related Articles Coronavirus (COVID-19): Pregnancy FAQs We're learning more every day about coronavirus (COVID-19). Here are some answers to questions about coronavirus and pregnancy. Read More Coronavirus (COVID-19): What Do Quarantine and Isolation Mean? Some people with COVID-19 might need to stay home and away from others for a set time. This is known as isolation or quarantine. Find out what this means. Read More Coronavirus (COVID-19) The coronavirus (COVID-19) is making people sick with flu-like symptoms. Read this article to learn how to protect your family, and to know when to call your doctor. Read More Coronavirus (COVID-19) Pandemic: What to Do if Your Child Is Sick There's still much to learn about COVID-19. Still, parents wonder what to do if their child gets sick during the pandemic. Here's what doctors say to do if your child has coronavirus symptoms. Read More Breastfeeding FAQs: Getting Started Here are answers to common questions about getting started with breastfeeding. Read More Breastfeeding vs. Formula Feeding Making a decision to breastfeed or formula feed your baby is a personal one. There are some points to consider to help you decide which option is best for you and your baby. Read More Breastfeeding FAQs: Pumping Here are answers to some common questions about pumping your breast milk - from buying a pump to making the process a little easier. Read More Breastfeeding FAQs: Safely Storing Breast Milk Here are answers to some common questions about how to keep breast milk and how to clean and sterilize supplies, from bottles to nipples to breast pump parts. Read More Breastfeeding FAQs: Some Common Concerns Here are answers to some questions about common breastfeeding concerns - from biting to spitting up. Read More Pregnant or Breastfeeding? Nutrients You Need Learn which nutrients you need while pregnant or breastfeeding, and easy ways to add them to your diet. Read More Breastfeeding FAQs: How Much and How Often Here's info about how often to breastfeed your baby, how long it takes to nurse, and much more. Read More Coronavirus (COVID-19): Home Care & Precautions Anyone who is sick — even if they don't know for sure they have coronavirus (COVID-19) — should stay home unless they need medical care. This helps prevent the illness from spreading to others. Read More Coronavirus (COVID-19): Social Distancing With Children More and more people are getting vaccinated against COVID-19. But for now, it is safest to keep social distancing when out in public. Here's what that means. Read More Coronavirus (COVID-19): Your Questions Answered We're learning more about coronavirus (COVID-19) every day. Here are answers to some questions you may have about symptoms, care, and protecting your family. Read More Understanding Coronavirus (COVID-19) Looking for information about coronavirus (COVID-19)? Our articles and videos explain what the virus is, ways to prevent it from spreading, what it means for school and learning, and much more. Read More Note: All information is for educational purposes only. For specific medical advice, diagnoses, and treatment, consult your doctor. © 1995-2021 KidsHealth®. All rights reserved. Images provided by The Nemours Foundation, iStock, Getty Images, Veer, Shutterstock, and Clipart.com.