It is understandable that many lactating women are wary to get the Covid-19 vaccine. Some have gotten the shot, some are still deciding, while some are not yet ready for it. Their main concern, of course, are their babies at home who are still breastfeeding.
The common questions that lactating mothers ask are:
• How safe is the vaccine for people who breastfeed?
• Will the vaccine have an effect on my baby?
• Will the vaccine have an effect on my milk production?
• Will the vaccine pass through my breast milk?
Covid-19 antibodies found in breast milk
All of these questions are valid, especially because it concerns a disease that the world has yet to fully understand. It helps that more studies are being conducted, specifically to answer the questions above.
According to an article published in Nature, a research community journal, preliminary results showed that scientists have not detected vaccines in breast milk of mothers who have gotten the Pfizer and Moderna shots.
What they found out, however, are antibodies, produced by mothers in response to inoculations, to the coronavirus SARS-CoV-2. Based on this positive data, what researches want to know next is “whether those antibodies can provide babies with at least partial protection against COVID-19,” the article reads.
Even the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has acknowledged similar reports about antibodies being found in breast milk of mothers who have gotten the vaccine. Because of this, it has recommended that lactating mothers receive the vaccine. “Based on how these vaccines work in the body, COVID-19 vaccines are thought not to be a risk to lactating people or their breastfeeding babies. Therefore, lactating people can receive a COVID-19 vaccine,” it posted on its website.
Talk to your health provider about the vaccine
It is important to note that WHO-approved Covid-19 vaccines do not have in them a live virus, therefore posing no risk for the virus to be transmitted to the baby through breast milk. Again, both World Health Organization and the CDC have stressed that the benefits of the vaccine for the population, including those who are pregnant and lactating, far outweigh its potential risks.
For lactating mothers who have yet to get the shot but are still hesitant, discussing your concerns with your pediatrician is the best you can do for your baby’s health and for your peace of mind. What’s important if for all mothers to know that all their concerns about the vaccine and its potential effects on their babies are all valid.
Boost your health, boost your milk supply
Wherever you are in your vaccine journey, keeping healthy is key while you continue to breastfeed. Make sure that you are able to keep your milk production up through nutritious foods and proper hydration. It is also recommended that you complement your nutrition with supplements that are made from superfoods that also work as galactagogues.
Moringa supplements address these two concerns by keeping the milk flowing and at the same time boosting the immune system and, in the process, keeping the body strong. Go-Lacta Moringa supplements are sourced from 100% organic Moringa leaves. They come in capsule, powder, and tea forms that are ready to be taken and work double for nursing moms and the rest of the family.
