In December, Lade visited her doctor, and he confirmed she was going to have a baby. As the months have gone by, pregnancy, which is supposed to be good news for any woman, now causes worry, as she wonders how she could safely deliver and nurse her child amid the coronavirus pandemic.
Pregnant women are more susceptible to the corona-virus infection due to immune alterations and changes. Visiting health centres may increase the chance of infection, however, lack of medical care during pregnancy is harmful to the health of both mother and her unborn child.
What is Maternal Health?
Maternal health is the health of women and children during pregnancy, childbirth, and the postpartum period. Even though maternal mortality is preventable, it has continued to increase in many nations of the world. In 2017, Sub-Saharan Africa alone accounted for roughly two-thirds (196 000) of maternal deaths – WHO
Maternal Health and COVID19
Pregnant women are more susceptible to the corona-virus infection due to immune alterations and changes. Visiting health centres may increase the chance of infection, however, lack of medical care during pregnancy is harmful to the health of both mother and her unborn child.
Studies have shown that pregnant women can pass Coronavirus or COVID-19 to their babies either through close contact with them after delivery or through a cough or sneeze, in the form of virus droplets on a newborn. The babies show mild symptoms of the virus such as pneumonia, mild respiratory distress, and fever, and the virus could also induce labour prematurely.
Nevertheless, there is a glimmer of hope for infected mothers as many studies show that there were rare cases of complications for infected babies. One particular study shows that out of 33 babies born to infected mothers in Wuhan, China, only three tested positive for the virus in the days after birth and recovered fully thereafter. Many women are currently in Lade’s position; they are confused about what to do and how to protect their babies from Coronavirus.
