Coronavirus makes breast milk green? Experts: Breast milk has many discoloration factors, and breastfeeding is still recommended

The Paper's reporter Feng Yinlun

Ashmiri shared the photo on facebook, showing how the color and consistency of her breast milk changed before and after she was infected with the new crown virus.

Recently, foreign media reported that a young mother abroad shared the contrast between the color of her breast milk before and after the infection with the new crown on Facebook, and the color of breast milk after the infection with the new crown was green, which triggered heated discussion among netizens.

Will COVID-19 and COVID-19 vaccines affect the color of breast milk, which in turn affects babies? Many experts at home and abroad pointed out that there are many factors that affect the color change of breast milk in lactating women, and there is no clear research result that viruses or vaccines will have a direct impact.

Gu Weirong, director of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology of Fudan University, MD and doctoral supervisor, said studies have shown that after lactating women are vaccinated, antibodies are detected in their milk, "which may bring potential benefits to newborns and infants." "From the perspective of nutritional and immune value, breastfeeding is still recommended for lactating women.

Recently, a research team from the University of Massachusetts Amherst published a study in the international academic journal Obstetrics & Gynecology that women who are fully vaccinated against the new crown can pass antibodies to the new crown virus to their babies through breastfeeding, thus making the baby "passive immune" to the new crown virus.

Foreign media reported that the milk of lactating women turned green after the new crown infection

The British "Daily Mail" reported on the 16th that Ashmiry was in the period of breast milk, and she shared two photos on the social platform Facebook (Facebook) to show the change in the color and consistency of her breast milk before and after the new crown virus.

She said the creamy yellow breast milk was stored before she tested positive for nucleic acid, and the green breast milk was stored after she and her children contracted the new crown virus.

Ashmiri was surprised and excited by this. She wrote, "The changes [of breast milk] show that my body is producing what the child needs, antibodies, extra fat and pure nutrition." Breast milk is amazing and I'm grateful to be able to produce it, especially now. ”

The post was reprinted by CPR KIDS, a child-centered first aid organization, and quickly became a hot topic of the day.

A PhD in breast milk research at Imperial College London speculated that women infected with the new coronavirus would produce antibodies against the virus, which would enter more than 90% of women's milk, possibly causing a change in color.

The Paper noted that the above situation is not the first time that it has appeared in foreign media reports.

According to British media reports, in January 2021, after a 23-year-old Mexican woman who was breastfeeding was infected with the new crown virus with her child, the color of breast milk was also pale green. After recovering from COVID-19, the color of the woman's breast milk changed back to its original color. When she shared this on social platforms, some netizens posted, "I have also had this situation." ”

In August last year, a South Korean netizen posted on social platforms that after receiving the Pfizer vaccine, breast milk also turned light green. She also uploaded photos of pale yellow breast milk left 3 days before vaccination and breast milk that turned pale green a day after vaccination, which attracted the attention of South Korean netizens.

Changes in the color of breast milk are affected by a variety of factors

So, will the new crown virus and the new crown vaccine affect the color of breast milk, which in turn will affect pregnant women and newborns? Many experts at home and abroad believe that there are many factors affecting the color change of breast milk in lactating women, and there is no clear research result that viruses or vaccines will have a direct impact.

Gu Weirong, director of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology of Fudan University Affiliated Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital, doctor of medicine and doctoral supervisor, said in an interview with the surging news (www.thepaper.cn) that there are many factors that affect the change of breast milk color, such as eating habits, medication, vitamin intake, etc. For example, when a nursing mother eats a large amount of (blue) green leafy vegetables, kelp, seaweed and other foods such as purple cabbage, the color of the milk will change accordingly. If the blood vessels in the nipple rupture, or if you have a disease such as breast cancer, the milk will still appear red.

According to South Korean media reports, Jeong Eui-seok, director of the Korean Breastfeeding Medical Association and professor of pediatric and adolescent science at Asan Hospital in Seoul, said that when patients are infected with infectious diseases, the color change of breast milk occurs from time to time, but "most of the time, the symptoms of breast milk color change are temporary."

Jeong suggested that if the color of breast milk changes after vaccination, it is best to observe it for a few days. If the color of breast milk continues to change, you should go to the hospital for diagnosis.

In March 2021, China's National Health Commission issued the Technical Guidelines for COVID-19 Vaccination (First Edition), which provides authoritative answers to issues such as maternal vaccination and breastfeeding.

Identify expectant mothers who are pregnant, and the COVID-19 vaccine is not recommended

Pregnancy after vaccination, there is no need to terminate pregnancy, you need to do a good job of pregnancy tests and follow-up, the second injection has not been vaccinated for the time being, the second injection is not given.

Pregnancy is not known at the time of vaccination, and pregnancy is detected after vaccination: there is no need to terminate the pregnancy, it is necessary to do a good job of pregnancy examination and follow-up, and the second injection has not been vaccinated for the time being.

Women in the pregnancy preparation stage: Vaccination does not affect normal pregnancy preparation, and there is no need to postpone the pregnancy plan. If you are pregnant before the second injection, do not get the second shot.

Breastfeeding mothers: It is recommended that nursing mothers with a high risk of contracting the new crown virus be vaccinated against the new crown, such as nursing mothers who are engaged in import cold chain, port quarantine, medical disease control, ship pilotage, air service, fresh trade, public transportation, etc., or need to travel to medium and high-risk countries or regions.

Vaccinated people are advised to continue breastfeeding

Li Tong, chief physician of the Department of Respiratory and Infectious Diseases of Beijing You'an Hospital affiliated to Capital Medical University, once pointed out to the surging news that pregnant women infected with the new crown virus without vaccination may not form antibodies in the body to pass on to their children, plus breastfeeding behavior is close contact, and there is a certain risk of infection.

Gu Weirong said that from the perspective of nutrition and immune value, it is still recommended that lactating women give priority to breastfeeding. For lactating women infected with the new crown virus, due to the risks posed by aerosol transmission, she recommends washing their hands and wearing masks before feeding, not letting children suck directly, and indirect feeding.

She also noted that studies have shown that antibodies detected in breast milk after vaccination "may have potential benefits for newborns and infants." ”

The team's researchers recruited 30 lactating female participants from across the United States, sampled breast milk and blood after they were vaccinated against COVID-19, and took stool samples from babies after breastfeeding.

Vignesh Narayanaswamy, lead author of the study, noted that the study is the first to test the presence of antibodies to the coronavirus in a stool sample from a baby after a mother was vaccinated. Indicates that the infant's digestive tract mucus may contain antibodies that may provide protection against COVID-19 infection.

He believes this compelling evidence gives women the motivation to continue breastfeeding after vaccination.

Editor-in-Charge: Cui Xuan Photo Editor: Le Yufeng

Proofreader: Liu Wei