IndiGlobal Media Bureau
Childbirth in the Third Wave of Omicron has presented the same challenges as it did in the First and Second Wave – severe Anxiety, Complications and post-Infection Hospital and Home Care.
Pregnant women, their families and healthcare workers, all are at risk as many of them are testing Covid 19 positive before child birth.
Due to this reason, hospitals that have all the facilities for emergency care are most sought after. In the Government sector too, the challenges continue to be the same and maternity hospitals, public health centers are bearing most of the load as women are being brought to the center for birthing.
Ninety percent of the pregnant women tested positive before birthing leading to severe anxiety and panic attacks.
Once they test positive, the treatment protocols change as there are doctors, nurses and paramedical staff in Personal Protective Equipment around them.
Dr Laxmi Kiran, Fetal Medicine Specialist at Rainbow Hospitals, says, “Many of them are testing positive when they are reporting for childbirth. Their vaccination status is not complete. Sixty percent of them have taken the first dose and did not opt for the second dose as they got pregnant. There are roughly 30 percent who have not taken a single dose of vaccine. Due to these reasons, the disease is presenting in them with fever and cough. By the time, the child is delivered, we have to monitor the status of the mother and accordingly allow for breast-feeding of the child. It is a cumbersome task and involves a lot of protocols for safety of mother and child.”
Anxiety is the biggest stress that is seen not only in mothers but also in the family as they are not able to cope with it. During the lean period between the second and third wave, there were too many apprehensions for the vaccination of pregnant women. Despite the recommendation by the Federation of Obstetric and Gynecological Societies of India (FOGSI) there has been reluctance. Complications are being noted in unvaccinated cases stated Dr Veena Aggarwal, consultant women’s health and Trustee, Dr K K’s Heart Care Foundation of India. Dr Aggarwal states that all clinicians must encourage vaccination as it is safe for mother and child.
In the ongoing wave, those who want normal child birthing are skeptical to come to hospitals fearing C-Section. Dr S V Lakshmi, senior consultant obstetrician and gynecologist at Medicover Woman and Child Hospitals says, “In the early stages of Covid 19 infection, normal delivery is an option and chance has to be given to them. It has been noted that only in serious cases where there are complications due to Covid 19 infection, there is a need for C-Section.”
Gynecologists urge families and also young mothers to get vaccinated and opt for hospital birthing despite the ongoing Third Wave. They fear, that cases can get complicated if the pregnant mothers are not attended to properly.
Experts state that hospital data shows that complications in the third wave for pregnant mothers has been minimal but post-birthing care in terms of controlling the infection and protecting the child depends on safety protocols followed at the hospital and home level.
