Covid 19 and Breastmilk
I had the chance to view a panel presented by the New York Lactation Consultant Association (NYCLA) where Dr. Rebecca Powell presented her findings on Covid-19 antibodies and breast milk. I had heard about this study in April 2020 when Dr. Powell was collecting samples in the greater NYC area, with little to no funding and was so impressed with her dedication. I knew she would uncover yet another area in which we are amazed by what breast milk can do.
Going through the basics of antibody production, we were given a quick reminder course on the type of antibody that is produced by lactating parents. IgA is the milk anti body and an IgG is a blood antibody. For this study, the focus is on IgA. Another reminder, an antibody is a protective protein produced by the immune system in response to the presence of a foreign substance.
Why are we interested in antibodies in breast milk when Covid is supposed to be less severe in children? It turns out that 10% of babies under 1 year old who contract Covid will have severe illness requiring care. So, it makes sense that there is an interest in the passive immunity a baby might get via milk feeding from a parent or donor who has antibodies in their milk.
In Dr. Powell’s study, starting in April 2020 she gathered one ounce samples of frozen milk from lactating parents who were at 3-6 weeks past infection. Initially, there was the longer wait to gather the milk after risk of transmission lessened but, now we know that milk from an infected parent is not a vector of infection for Covid. Using pre pandemic Covid negative milk as a control, Dr. Powell was able to compare the samples.
Findings were that the samples of milk from Covid positive parents exhibited spike specific reactivity, meaning antibodies were present and reacting to the spike proteins of Covid that were incubated with the breast milk samples. There was even reactivity in milk samples that were diluted with saline! Those antibodies got to work!
Even more interesting in her findings, Dr. Powell continued to collect samples of milk from Covid positive parents 5-9 months after infection and there were STILL antibodies present. Learning about the antibodies themselves, they were secretory antibodies meaning they were more durable. More durable means they where able to withstand the harsh environments of the infant mouth and digestive system.
Why the interest in Covid and breastmilk? There are two reasons. First, lactating parents who test positive for Covid should take all precautions recommended by their doctors regarding transmission. However, milk from a lactating parent or donor is shown not to be a vector of transmission itself AND the antibodies benefit the child, lending passive immunity. Second, it is of interest as a therapeutic in treating more severe cases of the virus.
All this to say, continue to take any and all precautions in your daily life. If you are exposed and if you are to isolate from your baby, your milk is still doing the most and providing antibodies to your child.
Below is a picture of a bottle of pumped milk that one of my clients sent me. Just recently testing positive, she’s not feeling her best but we know her milk is doing the work and providing antibodies for her babies. It even turned a cool blue/green!
Links to the study below and some info about Dr. Powell:
https://www.cell.com/iscience/pdf/S2589-0042(20)30932-9.pdf
https://labs.icahn.mssm.edu/rebecca-powell-lab/about-us/
