Coronavirus | More pregnant women are testing positive
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Doctors have been seeing a major rise within the variety of pregnant women testing positive for COVID-19 in the course of the second wave of the an infection. But this isn’t the one reason for fear — there may be additionally a rise within the severity of an infection amongst them and lots of pregnant women have been requiring oxygen help.
It is nothing like the primary wave final yr, say obstetricians and gynaecologists within the metropolis.
“Now, almost one in three pregnant women is testing positive for COVID-19,” mentioned Jaishree Gajaraj, senior advisor, obstetrics and gynaecology. “At least 50% of them are having some symptom or the other. Last year, we never saw any pregnant woman going into the Intensive Care Unit (ICU). From April-end till now, we have seen one or two patients going into the ICU. There is rapid disease progression among pregnant women,” she mentioned.
Both pregnant women and lactating moms are at present not eligible for COVID-19 vaccination within the nation. “All major societies and gynaecologists’ bodies have represented to the government, seeking permission to vaccinate pregnant women as we are seeing mortality,” she added.
S. Vijaya, director, Institute of Obstetrics and Gynaecology and Government Hospital for Women and Children, mentioned since April, they’d handled almost 200 COVID-19 sufferers who have been pregnant. Presently, there are 60 pregnant women who’ve examined positive for the an infection.
“In the first wave, we treated 800 pregnant women in a span of six months. Now we have already treated 200. We are seeing that many infected pregnant women are needing oxygen support. This was not the case during the last wave, when a majority of our patients were asymptomatic. Now we have patients coming in with breathing difficulties and requiring oxygen,” she mentioned.
Most have been within the fifth to eighth month of being pregnant, she mentioned, including: “As they are in these middle months, we have to continue the pregnancy. We cannot adopt a prone position. The severity of infection is also high in some of them,” she mentioned.
She added that they have been ready for suggestions on vaccination for pregnant women and lactating moms. “In the meantime, we have discussed the need to shift women in households where any family member has tested positive to a separate facility. They should be moved out and quarantined in separate healthcare or care centres. We have also cut down antenatal visits and asked them to come for checkups during the third, fifth, seventh and ninth month of pregnancy, instead of monthly visits,” she mentioned.
IOG has a separate ward for pregnant women with fever and cough, she mentioned. At the Government RSRM Lying-in Hospital, two to 3 deliveries of contaminated pregnant women are carried out in a day, on common.
At the Government Kilpauk Medical College (KMC) Hospital, the place high-risk pregnancies are being referred now, there are 30 pregnant women who’ve examined positive. “For women under the age of 25, it is better to postpone pregnancies. Getting infected during early pregnancy has its own risks. Pregnant women have to go for regular medical checkups. They should avoid crowds and take adequate precautions,” P. Vasanthamani, Dean of KMC, mentioned.
On conception, Dr. Gajaraj mentioned, “I tell couples that we are so much in the dark, and they could wait for a couple of months.” She mentioned pregnant women ought to keep away from going out. “If they have to, they should wear masks. They should avoid social gatherings, baby showers and other ceremonies as well,” she mentioned.
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