CHENNAI: Covid-19 has everyone on edge, especially expectant mothers. Pregnancy changes the immune system of a woman, making her more susceptible to infections, says Dr Padmapriya Vivek, head of department, Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Gleneagles Global Health City.
“And though there is no evidence or study that shows it is more harmful to a pregnant woman than to a regular person, it’s better to be safe than sorry.”
Dr Vivek recommends that moms to be avoid even the smallest possibility of getting ill. “If you are pregnant, you need to follow the hygiene protocols more than anyone else. Wash your hands frequently with soap and water or an alcohol-based hand rub. Sanitize it every now and then. Avoid touching your face.”
She also says that moms to be ought to call their doctor if they are feeling the slightest discomfort.
“It is natural to feel anxious or stressed at this point in time, but expectant mothers need to know that their mindset has an effect on their baby, so they need to try and manage their stress levels.” Dr Vivek suggests mediation, talking to friends and family, even if it is virtually.
“Try and divert your mind from everything. Stay away from fake news that runs through social media, as it can create more anxiety. Restrict your source of information to credible sources,” she says.
This is a good time to develop a simple hobby like learning a new language or reading more to calm the mind.
“If you get infected by novel coronavirus near your delivery date, there are special precautions that your doctors can help you with. Though experts have not yet shown any evidence of the virus being transmitted during pregnancy, it can occur after birth when infants are in close contact with someone who has the illness. Therefore, if the mother is down with Covid-19, it is wise to keep the infant in isolation. Breast feeding can be continued by the infected mother by taking all precautions before feeding the baby, like hand sanitization and wearing mask. Another alternative is using breast pump and giving the baby the expressed breast milk if the woman is suffering from bad cough or if they are scared of exposure to baby through direct breast feeding,” she says.
“And though there is no evidence or study that shows it is more harmful to a pregnant woman than to a regular person, it’s better to be safe than sorry.”
Dr Vivek recommends that moms to be avoid even the smallest possibility of getting ill. “If you are pregnant, you need to follow the hygiene protocols more than anyone else. Wash your hands frequently with soap and water or an alcohol-based hand rub. Sanitize it every now and then. Avoid touching your face.”
She also says that moms to be ought to call their doctor if they are feeling the slightest discomfort.
“It is natural to feel anxious or stressed at this point in time, but expectant mothers need to know that their mindset has an effect on their baby, so they need to try and manage their stress levels.” Dr Vivek suggests mediation, talking to friends and family, even if it is virtually.
“Try and divert your mind from everything. Stay away from fake news that runs through social media, as it can create more anxiety. Restrict your source of information to credible sources,” she says.
This is a good time to develop a simple hobby like learning a new language or reading more to calm the mind.
“If you get infected by novel coronavirus near your delivery date, there are special precautions that your doctors can help you with. Though experts have not yet shown any evidence of the virus being transmitted during pregnancy, it can occur after birth when infants are in close contact with someone who has the illness. Therefore, if the mother is down with Covid-19, it is wise to keep the infant in isolation. Breast feeding can be continued by the infected mother by taking all precautions before feeding the baby, like hand sanitization and wearing mask. Another alternative is using breast pump and giving the baby the expressed breast milk if the woman is suffering from bad cough or if they are scared of exposure to baby through direct breast feeding,” she says.
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