Expressed milk
During the first weeks of breastfeeding it's important to have lots of skin to skin contact and feed your baby when they are showing feeding cues, if they are unsettled, you want to have a cuddle or your breasts feel full. Breastfeeding your baby is easier than expressing your breastmilk but there may be times when you do want to express your breastmilk. If you or a family member are feeding with expressed milk, it is particularly important at the moment to be hygienic.
Make sure you wash your hands before touching your breast pump or feeding your baby. Also sterilise any bottles or equipment before you use them and wash them carefully afterwards. Don't share bottles or breast pumps with anyone else.
Can I get the coronavirus vaccine if I’m breastfeeding?
The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation has recommended that the vaccine can be given to women who are breastfeeding.
Clinical trials on the use of COVID-19 vaccines while breastfeeding are not advanced. However, the available data do not indicate any harm to the breastfed infant. So if you are breastfeeding, or planning to breastfeed, you can continue breastfeeding after vaccination.
The COVID-19 vaccine - Pregnancy leaflet has more information about the coronavirus vaccination programme if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.
Reasons to breastfeed
