Breastfeeding rates fell in an Italian baby friendly hospital during the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic year and difficulties increased.

Aim: Our aim was to evaluate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on breastfeeding at discharge in a Baby Friendly hospital in 2020.

Methods: This study retrospectively compared healthy neonates born in 2019 with those born in 2020 at the Baby Friendly San Bonifacio Hospital in Verona, Italy. We also compared those born to mothers who tested negative and positive for the virus that causes COVID-19.