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Multicenter Study
. 2023 Nov;39(4):625-635.
doi: 10.1177/08903344231190623. Epub 2023 Sep 15.

Breastfeeding Behavior Within the Covid-19 Related Obstetric and Neonatal Outcome Study (CRONOS)

Janine Zöllkau  1 , Yvonne Heimann  1 , Carsten Hagenbeck  2 , Ulrich Pecks  3 , Michael Abou-Dakn  4 , Rolf Schlösser  5 , Anna Schohe  4 , Iris Dressler-Steinbach  6 , Maike Manz  7 , Constanze Banz-Jansen  8 , Edith Reuschel  9 , Antonella Iannaccone  10 , Michael K Bohlmann  11 , Katrina Kraft  12 , Sara Fill Malfertheiner  9 , Pauline Wimberger  13 , Thomas Kolben  14 , Catharina Bartmann  15 , Ann - Carolin Longardt  16
Affiliations
Multicenter Study

Breastfeeding Behavior Within the Covid-19 Related Obstetric and Neonatal Outcome Study (CRONOS)

Janine Zöllkau et al. J Hum Lact. 2023 Nov.

Abstract

Background: The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic and its influence on peripartum processes worldwide led to issues in breastfeeding support.

Research aim: The aim of this study was to describe breastfeeding behavior and peripartum in-hospital management during the pandemic in Germany and Austria.

Methods: This study was a descriptive study using a combination of secondary longitudinal data and a cross-sectional online survey. Registry data from the prospective multicenter COVID-19 Related Obstetric and Neonatal Outcome Study (CRONOS) cohort study (longitudinal, medical records of 1,815 parent-neonate pairs with confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection during pregnancy) and a cross-sectional online survey of CRONOS hospitals' physicians (N = 67) were used for a descriptive comparison of feeding outcomes and postpartum management.

Results: In 93.7% (n = 1700) of the cases in which information on the neonate's diet was provided, feeding was with the mother's own milk. Among neonates not receiving their mother's own milk, 24.3% (n = 26) reported SARS-CoV-2 infection as the reason. Peripartum maternal SARS-CoV-2 infection, severe maternal COVID-19 including the need for intensive care unit (ICU) treatment or invasive ventilation, preterm birth, mandatory delivery due to COVID-19, and neonatal ICU admission were associated with lower rates of breastfeeding. Rooming-in positively influenced breastfeeding without affecting neonatal SARS-CoV-2 frequency (4.2% vs. 5.6%). CRONOS hospitals reported that feeding an infant their mother's own milk continued to be supported during the pandemic. In cases of severe COVID-19, four of five hospitals encouraged breastfeeding.

Conclusion: Maintaining rooming-in and breastfeeding support services in the CRONOS hospitals during the pandemic resulted in high breastfeeding rates.

Keywords: Austria; COVID-19; CRONOS Registry; Germany; SARS-CoV-2; breastfeeding; lactation management; mother’s milk feeding; pregnancy; prospective cohort.

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Conflict of interest statement

Disclosures and Conflicts of InterestThe authors declared the following potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article: Pecks reports a grant from Krumme Stiftung and Deutsche Diabetes Gesellschaft, as well as non-financial support from Castor EDC and Deutsche Gesellschaft für Perinatale Medizin during the conduct of the study. All other authors have nothing to disclose.

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