As per UNICEF, Under the shadow of Covid-19, approximately 116 Million babies are expecting to be born by the end of December 2020. With increasing measures of containment world wide, health care centers are experiencing new challenges. Challenges include shortage of equipment and facilities, lack of skilled health care workers to attend labour, having midwives attend covid-19 patients. These containment measures are disrupting the life saving health care services such as child birth putting the life of mother and baby at risk. Hence Expectant mothers, New mothers and Newborn are being greeted with these harsh realities. Then what are the measures to stay safe from covid-19 during pregnancy??? Let’s find out
In this article, We are going to cover
- Why pregnant women are more vulnerable to develop covid-19 infection
- How to stay safe during pregnancy from covid-19
- Some Myths regrading Covid-19 in pregnant women
Why Pregnant Women are Vulnerable to Covid-19?
Comparing with non-pregnant women, Pregnant women are more prone to develop both bacterial and viral infections. Several mechanical and pathophysiological changes like urinary stasis and decrease in respiratory volumes occur during pregnancy. Immune adaptions are required, to accommodate the requirements of the foetus exposing pregnant mother to various infections. Covid-19 is one of such infections that pregnant mothers are susceptible to.
Stay Safe From Covid-19 During Pregnancy
Source: WHO
How to stay safe?
- Wash hands thoroughly 6 times in a day
- Avoid frequent touching of Eyes, Nose and Mouth as they are entry routes for corona virus
- Avoid social gathering and crowds unless very important
- Keep a distance of 6 meters from others
- Don’t touch public surfaces
- Disinfect surfaces frequently
Myth Buster
No vertical Transmission of Corona Virus from Pregnant mother to the Foetus:
Though Pregnant mother is infected with virus, it doesn’t infect the foetus. After studying 108 pregnant women, who are Covid-19 positive, there is no evidence as to virus crossing placenta and infecting foetus. So don’t panic. Your baby is safe inside the womb.
Staying with baby after Delivery:
Provided that the baby is well and doesn’t require any neonatal care, Mother can stay with the baby. Though mother is covid-19 positive, she can still stay with baby taking necessary precautions. Precautions include, washing hands before and after touching the baby, Cover face with mask etc.
Breastfeeding when Infected:
There is no evidence as to the presence of virus in the breast milk. Hence, mother can happily feed the baby though she is covid-19 positive. The risk of virus transmission to the new born arises because of close contact between infected mother and the newborn while feeding. So taking precautions like washing hands, wearing a mask reduce the chances of infecting the newborn.
Does the Corona virus cause Miscarriage?
There is no evidence till date to comment on risk of miscarriages if infected with corona virus. As virus can’t cross the placenta and it causes respiratory track infections, the chances of miscarriage due to covid-19 are still skeptical. Ruling out of underlying causes of miscarriage are necessary before coming to a conclusion.
Bottom Line!
To conclude, observing the studies so far, there is no evidence on vertical transmission of virus from Pregnant mother to foetus or during the process of delivery. Further there is no evidence of presence of virus in the breast milk. Though, current evidence is ruling out the presumptions of virus transmission from mother to foetus, there is need for further extensive research to completely overrule the transmission. Hence, pregnant women must take all the necessary precautions, as they are more susceptible to catch infections during Pregnancy.
Enjoy Your Pregnancy
Also Read:
Covid-19, Pandemic of the decade