COVID-19’s Impact on Breastfeeding, Maternal Care, and Infant Mental Health: Re-engineering Postnatal Care

The document is a combined presentation on the implications of the COVID-19 pandemic response on breastfeeding, maternal caregiving capacity, and infant mental health, as well as re-engineering postnatal unit care and the transition home to reduce perinatal morbidity and mortality. The presentation is divided into sections that discuss the importance of skin-to-skin contact, breastfeeding, and maternal caregiving capacity for infant mental health and development. It highlights the benefits of skin-to-skin contact and breastfeeding for both mothers and infants, including the release of hormones that promote maternal behavior and reduce stress, and the provision of nutrition and immune support for infants. The presentation also touches on the need for policies that support breastfeeding and maternal caregiving capacity in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic.