PREGNANT people have been assured that they can continue to breastfeed even if they test positive for Covid-19.

With the number of infections in Oxfordshire rising, in particular among people in their 30s, the infant feeding team at Oxford University Hospitals and Oxfordshire Clinical Commissioning Group released a video to inform parents they can continue to breastfeed even if they contract the virus.

This is part of World Breastfeeding Week, which will run until Saturday, August 7.

Alex Mulford, OUH infant feeding lead, commented: "World Breastfeeding Week is a great opportunity to raise awareness of the importance of breastfeeding for both mothers and their babies.

ALSO READ: 'Stay away from A&E, unless it's an emergency' Oxfordshire patients told

"While we urge breastfeeding mothers to get vaccinated against Covid-19 as a first step to protecting themselves and their babies, we advise them not to stop breastfeeding, should they get it.

"If a mother has to come into hospital, we will support them to either continue feeding or start expressing depending on their circumstances.

"We know how worried parents can be about passing the virus onto their children and close contact is a risk factor as transmission is by airborne droplets which is why we advise on how to avoid this.

Oxford Mail: Breastfeed Week.

"However, breastfeeding's role with regard to bonding and the baby’s health outweigh the potential risks of passing on the virus, as breastmilk boosts a baby’s immune system.

"So, with good respiratory hygiene, which includes wearing a medical mask and good hand hygiene, it is possible to continue breastfeeding."

ALSO READ: New Covid hotspot in Oxfordshire as cases fall by 20 per cent

Supporting breastfeeding has been a key priority for OUH in recent years, as the trust has committed to achieving full UNICEF Baby Friendly Accreditation across the Women’s and Children’s departments.

The trust is getting closer to the goal as the newborn care unit at the John Radcliffe Hospital in Headington has just been awarded Stage 3, which is the full accreditation.

Other maternity services, including the four standalone midwifery-led units in Wantage, Wallingford, Chipping Norton, and Banbury, as well as the Spires, achieved the Stage 2 UNICEF Baby Friendly accreditation three years ago and are expected to be awarded the Stage 3 by the end of this year.

Gillian Denton, neonatal feeding Lead at OUH, said: "We are very proud to be the first level 3 (intensive care) newborn care unit in the Thames Valley and Wessex network to be awarded the full UNICEF Baby Friendly Accreditation.

"There could not have been a better time than World Breastfeeding Week to celebrate this achievement."