The writer is Dr sandeep chaddha is Gynaecologist at motherhood hospital, noida
No doubt, pregnancy is the most beautiful phase in a woman’s life. During this phase, a woman tends to experience immunologic and physiologic changes that often make them hypochondriac about their and the unborn child’s heath. And, when the world is fighting with deadly coronavirus pandemic, the anxiety and stress level increases in expecting mothers.
The virus, which originated in Wuhan, China in January, has rapidly spread across the globe, including to every State in India. As everyday so many people are getting affected by it irrespective of age and gender, it’s natural to have questions about the coronavirus and what it means for your pregnancy. Here’s what you need to know.
According to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Coronavirus typically spread from an infected person to other people via respiratory drops that get into the air by coughing or sneezing, close contact with an infected person, like touching or shaking hands, or touching a surface that has been contaminated with the virus and then touching your mouth, nose or eyes before you wash your hands can also spread the virus.
Symptoms include
What precaution pregnant women should take?
Since pregnant women are immunocompromised, therefore they are more susceptible to complications of respiratory infections, flu and if not treated immediately it can impact their health severely.
Not only this, but pregnant women may also suffer from severe illness, morbidity and mortality compared to others. They have chances of getting other related coronavirus infections (including severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV) and Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV)) and other viral respiratory infections, such as influenza, during pregnancy.
A small study of nine pregnant women in Wuhan, China, with confirmed COVID-19 found no evidence of the virus in their breast milk and cord blood amniotic fluid.
Though there is no evidence that suggests that pregnant women are at the risk of miscarriage or even of the virus passing to the developing baby while the mother is pregnant, the research is still going on.
Pregnant women should take precautions in order to keep coronavirus away. Similar to other members, they should also wash their hands at regular intervals, avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands, avoid close contact, cover your mouth while coughing and sneezing or wear a face mask and disinfect frequently touch surfaces.
If you are pregnant and you feel sick then consult your doctor immediately as your baby may also be vulnerable to the virus.
As the virus has continued its spread across India, many hospitals and birthing centers have been enacting new measures to keep mothers and babies safe. They should restrict visitors from entering the delivery room. If a patient has been exposed to or test positive for COVID-19, they should be shifted to anisolated ward with doctors and nurses wearing protective gear.