Breastfeeding Practices and Psychological Experiences of Romanian Mothers with SARS-CoV-2 Infection

SARS-CoV-2 infection posed multiple challenges for breastfeeding women. We intended to examine the impact of maternal coronavirus disease (COVID-19) on breastfeeding experiences and continuation. The aim was to generate insights that could inform strategies to support mothers in managing stress during illness and to promote positive breastfeeding outcomes.

Our survey recruited 120 Romanian breastfeeding women who contracted SARS-CoV-2 infection using a 46-item questionnaire. It was disseminated through Facebook, Instagram, obstetrics-related online communities and medical networks. We included questions which addressed demographic characteristics, breastfeeding practices, SARS-CoV-2 infection during lactation, related concerns and perceptions of the pandemic and disease period. Study participants were split into groups based on their symptomatology - mild or moderate COVID-19.

Women with moderate SARS-CoV-2 infection reported greater physical impairment and more negative emotional symptoms compared with those with mild disease. Despite these challenges, breastfeeding practices were largely preserved: most mothers continued to nurse their infants, many maintained exclusive breastfeeding for over one year and nearly all refrained from isolating from their children. The adoption of additional hygiene measures reflected maternal awareness of transmission risks and a desire to mitigate them while sustaining close contact. The lack of significant differences in breastfeeding experience between women with mild and moderate infection indicated that, within this group, disease severity exerted only a limited influence on maternal decisions regarding infant care.

Maternal SARS-CoV-2 infection did not substantially disrupt breastfeeding practices or the mother-infant relationship despite the challenges of the disease. These findings highlight the importance of providing adequate healthcare support to infected mothers, both to reduce stress associated with breastfeeding under restrictive conditions and to promote practices that safeguard maternal and infant health.