COVID-19 and Pregnancy

GENERAL PRINCIPLES

@ Reported cases of COVID-19 pneumonia in pregnancy are milder and with good recovery.
 Pregnant women with heart diseases are at higher risk of severity.

@ There is no data suggesting any increased risk of miscarriage or loss of early pregnancy.

@ COVID-19 is not an indication of Medical Termination of Pregnancy.

@ There is no recorded case of vaginal secretions being tested positive for COVID-19

@ There is no recorded case of breast milk being tested positive for COVID-19

@ Vaginal delivery is recommended,if feasible, unless severely ill. If urgent delivery by Caesarean Section is needed, spinal anaesthesia is recommended to minimise the need for general anaesthesia. Always aim to keep oxygen saturation above 94% during the procedure.

@ Transmission of the disease from the mother to the baby after birth via contact with infectious respiratory secretions is a major concern.

@ Mother has to be isolated from the new-born until the mother becomes negative two times by RT-PCR at 24 hours apart. A separate isolation room should be available for the new-born.

@ The new-born has to be tested by RT-PCR whenever symptomatic.