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.
Keywords: Austria; COVID-19; CRONOS Registry; Germany; SARS-CoV-2; breastfeeding; lactation management; mother’s milk feeding; pregnancy; prospective cohort.