Shared decision‐making for infant feeding and care during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic

Abstract

Despite decades of research establishing the importance of breastfeeding, skin‐to‐skin contact and mother–infant closeness, the response to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) pandemic has underscored the hidden assumption that these practices can be dispensed with no consequences to mother or child. This article aims to support shared decision‐making process for infant feeding and care with parents and health care providers during the unprecedented times of the pandemic. It proposes a structure and rationale to guide the process that includes (1) discussing with parents evidence‐based information and the different options to feed and care for an infant and young child in the context of the pandemic as well as their potential benefits, risks and scientific uncertainties; (2) helping parents to recognize the sensitive nature of the decisions and to clarify the value they place on the different options to feed and care for their infant or young child; and (3) providing guidance and support needed to make and implement their decisions. A shared decision‐making process will help parents navigate complex feeding and care decisions for their child as we face the different stages of the COVID‐19 pandemic.

Making good care essential: The impact of increased obstetric interventions and decreased services during the COVID-19 pandemic

“…Not only did no participants raise concerns about the potential risks of the interventions that they were offered, but the reduced opportunity for hands-on care means that conversations to establish informed consent are less likely to have occurred. This supports the findings of other studies of perinatal care during the pandemic, which have identified the lack of discussions between obstetric care providers and patients about the risks and potential outcomes of obstetric interventions as a major area of concern [ 51 ].…”

Achieving Breastfeeding Equity and Justice in Black Communities: Past, Present, and Future

“…31 Owing to COVID-19 restrictions, lactation support and maternity care practices supportive of breastfeeding have been significantly impacted. [32][33][34] To mitigate the spread and exposure to COVID-19, many hospitals, clinics, public health programs, and community-based organizations implemented very restrictive visiting policies. These restrictions eliminated critical birth and breastfeeding education, support, and community resources.…”

Empfehlungen zu SARS-CoV-2/COVID-19 in Schwangerschaft, Geburt und Wochenbett – Update November 2021 (Kurzfassung)

“…Frauen mit nachgewiesener oder vermuteter SARS-CoV-2-Infektion scheinen geringere Stillraten aufzuweisen [88]. Eine ausführliche Beratung und gemeinsame Entscheidungsfindung werden daher dringend empfohlen [89,90].…”