Keywords: Human Breast Milk, Colostrum, SARS-CoV-2, COVID-19,
anti-SARS-CoV-2 specific antibodies.
Tweetable abstract: Colostrum (n = 135) and mature milk
(n = 81) were collected from pregnant women who had SARS-CoV-2 infection
during pregnancy or at delivery. All colostrum samples tested negative
by rRT-PCR-SARS-CoV-2. However, IgA and IgG were present in 111 (82.2%)
and 2 (1.5%) colostrum samples and 27 (33.3%) and 0 mature milk
samples, respectively. Concentrations of immunoglobulins were not
associated with the timing of infection but women with SARS-CoV-2
pneumonia had higher levels of IgA and IgG in colostrum than those who
were asymptomatic or had mild symptoms. All women should be encouraged
to breastfeed, undertaking strict contact precautions when there is
active disease.