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Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) and breastfeeding. 2020b. https://www.cdc.gov/breastfeeding/breastfeeding-special-circumstances/maternal-or-infant-illnesses/covid-19-and-breastfeeding.html (accessed 17 July 2020)

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Evaluation and management considerations for neonates at risk for COVID-19. 2020c. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/hcp/caring-for-newborns.html (accessed 17 July 2020)

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. If you are pregnant, breastfeeding, or caring for young children. 2020d. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/need-extra-precautions/pregnancy-breastfeeding.html (accessed 17 July 2020)

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Interim US guidance for risk assessment and work restrictions for healthcare personnel with potential exposure to COVID-19. 2020e. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/hcp/guidance-risk-assesment-hcp.html (accessed 24 July 2020)

Dashraath P, Jeslyn WJL, Karen LMX, Min LL, Sarah L, Biswas A, Choolani MA, Mattar C, Lin SL Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic and pregnancy. American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology. 2020; 222:(6)P521-P531 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ajog.2020.03.021

Li Z, Ge J, Yang M, Feng J, Qiao M, Jiang R, Bi J, Zhan G, Xu X, Wang L Vicarious traumatization in the general public, members, and non-members of medical teams aiding in COVID-19 control. Brain, Behavior, and Immunity. 2020; 88:916-919 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bbi.2020.03.007

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Care strategies before entering pregnant mothers to the operating room and after birth during COVID-19

02 June 2021

Professional

02 June 2021

Volume 29 · Issue 6

ISSN (print): 0969-4900

ISSN (online): 2052-4307

Coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) is an infectious disease that is spread through saliva droplets or nasal discharge while coughing or sneezing (World Health Organization [WHO], 2020a). These droplets could be inhaled into the mouth or nose and, possibly, into the lungs through the air if one is close to an infected person (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC], 2020e). According to the latest guidance from RCOG (2021), pregnant women ‘do not appear more likely to contract the infection than the general population’ however, it is still probable that pregnant women can contract the virus and thus certain strategies still need to be put in place to care for them.

Preliminary reports suggest that outbreaks are more likely to occur when a person is in close contact with someone who has SARS-CoV-2 (CDC, 2020e). Physiological and anatomical changes during pregnancy increase the susceptibility to infections in general (Dashraath et al, 2020) and so there is no way to ensure that the risk of infection could be zero (CDC, 2020d). Therefore, pregnant women should be monitored in order to be diagnosed and prevent mother and baby from being infected with the virus (Yang et al, 2020).

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