PREGNANT WOMEN DURING LOCKDOWN - General Guidelines

Edited Version | Hyderabad | 14 May 20

The coronavirus –COVID 19 pandemic is the defining global health crisis of our time and the greatest challenge we have faced since world war. Countries are racing to slow the spread of the virus by testing and treating patients, limiting travel, quarantining citizens, maintaining social distance and cancelling social gatherings.

BUT SAFE FOR FETUS OR NOT????

There is something encouraging for pregnant women who may be exposed to the Corona Virus , that according to a new observational study on COVID 19 in the 3rd trimester of pregnancy, the virus does not appear to travel across the placenta from mother to cause infection of the fetus(published in ARCHIVES OF PATHOLOGY AND LABORATORY MEDICINE, CHINA.)

“ BUT WHY TO TAKE RISK “ Says ,
Dr Arjuman Sultana Consultant Oobstetrician & Gynaecologist at Germanten Hospital Hyderabad

The love of a mother to her child is unconditional so there should not be any chance to take a risk, so all the expecting mother stay at home, be safe and just enjoy the upcoming motherhood. But it can be difficult to know how to keep calm during pregnancy in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic.

WHY LOCKDOWN IS SO IMPORTANT?

Extreme social distancing is pretty much the only intervention to help individuals stay healthy and to break the chain of transmission-giving more vulnerable population a fighting chance of surviving this pandemic.

THEN, WHAT TO DO??

There are four essential things that pregnant women should take care of- Nutrition is a key factor for both pregnant women & babies considering the diet of a pregnant woman.
She believe there are 5 essential items that should be on their plate, like:

• FRUITS & VEGETABLES:
  Whichever fruits and vegs they like to eat should be taken on a daily basis
• General food items like chapati, roti and rice should there in their daily diet .
• Milk & milk products like curd, chenna etc. form an important part of the pregnancy diet .
• Food items that are rich in protein like fish, chicken, egg, soybean, pulses are highly recommended for a pregnant woman .
• Have some dry fruits like almond, walnut etc.

Beside Nutrition, the other important thing is staying at home.it is important to maintain hand, face and respiratory hygiene & ensure social distancing.
Hand Hygiene requires washing your hands with soap and water and then use alcohol-based sterillium. It is essential not to touch your face in this vulnerable time.
Lastly, it’s Respiratory Hygiene, like coughing into your elbow not in your palm or in case you cough into a tissue you must dispose it properly and try to gurgle with lukewarm saltwater for once or twice a day.

Other Important Factors-

If you are undergoing through 1st and 3rd trimester, you have to undergo various diagnostic tests, scans and vaccines in an alternative week or in a month, so prior come to the hospital make sure about doctor’s availability and facilities going on there.
Due to hormonal imbalance, there will be huge anxiety, so do some pranayama & meditations before sleep.
Do some antenatal yoga in the early morning.
create positive affirmation cards for yourself by listening to music, watching positive vivid movie & spending quality time with family members.
Just switch off the news, use social media or phone to connect with your close ones, but disconnect from everything else going on outside.
Generally, it is known that pregnancy lowers the immunity & they are prone to other viral infection, so why not COVID-19? So, you have to be careful because of high susceptibility to several viruses which is caused due to immunosuppression associated with pregnancy.
Immediately consult your doctor if there is an emergency.

So, stay at home, eat nutritiously, be healthy, because you love your child bigger than the world & sky.