Conceiving a child is the desire and wish of many people. Motherhood can be a wonderful experience that surpasses all known emotions and loves. But because we live in a time of a coronavirus spread, it’s normal to wonder if the time for pregnancy is ideal. Is it a safe idea? Let’s look at things to note regarding a pregnancy during coronavirus in detail.
Requirements Of Pregnancy
Pregnancy is the state where a woman is fertilized (sperm from the male fertilizes an egg from the female) and has successful implantation of the fertilized egg in the uterus. The process seems to be very simple but has a lot of requirements to be met to allow for a successful pregnancy.
Follow-Up Visits To A Maternity Clinic
A common and frequent requirement of pregnancy are regular visits to the clinic or hospital. This is where pregnant women go for regular checkups, to monitor the mother-to-be’s health and baby’s progress, and to treat any pregnancy-related issues which may include:
- pregnancy-induced hypertension
- heartburn
- constipation
- anemia
- back pain
Ultrasonographs And Scans For Pregnant Mothers
The expecting mother also has to undergo different blood tests and ultrasonography to check for the growth and health of the baby. Doppler scans and anomaly scans are carried out to check the position and the presence of an anomaly in the fetus (the unborn baby).
7 Things To Note Regarding A Pregnancy During Coronavirus
- Risk of acquiring coronavirus
The greatest downside of getting pregnant during a coronavirus pandemic is the risk of acquiring the virus. To get to the clinic, a pregnant woman has to leave the comforts of her house, take a means of transportation, and potentially expose herself to healthcare providers, who interact with other patients, some of which may have been exposed to coronavirus. All of these maneuvers increase your risk of getting infected, of course.
- Limited number of clinics
The increasing health risks entailed with the COVID-19 spread had forced many doctors to shut their healthcare facilities. This included dentists, obstetricians, ophthalmologists, and other medical professionals.
Some nations were lucky to only endure a limited spread of the disease while other countries such as the US and Europe had a massive strike of the disease. Unfortunately, some of the countries minimally affected by coronavirus’s initial attacks are now facing a second wave that is even more lethal. It is common knowledge that pregnant women should do all they can to be protected from the COVID-19. With the limited number of facilities open and the need for social distance, fewer people can be served during the pandemic. This has also resulted in the closure of teaching clinics and hospitals that has affected students too, a study suggests. This of course means a shortage of maternity clinics to choose from.
- Reduction of visits for pregnant women
In lieu of coronavirus, many doctors, medical professionals, and midwives have reduced the number of follow-up visits to their places of work. One thing to note regarding a pregnancy during coronavirus is women are often advised to only visit a facility when it is essential.
- Midwives and covid-19
Your midwife is the focal person you should contact throughout the pregnancy. Midwives are trained especially to manage your concerns and expectations. The ability of midwives to manage COVID-19 maternity mothers was evaluated in a recent study that showed that midwives can efficiently manage maternity clinics and keep you safe even amidst the coronavirus pandemic.
- Coronavirus on medical equipment
A pregnancy spans about 9 months and the period is divided into 3 trimesters. Pregnant women have to get their ultrasonography (USG) done every trimester. This means exposure to USG equipment. We know however, that the coronavirus can survive on different materials for long periods. This exposure to infected medical equipment is risky, and therefore if you need to get a USG, please only visit a trusted medical facility that provides sufficient cleansing and takes enough precautions.
- COVID-19 transmission to your child
The chaos and trauma created by COVID-19 are immense but in regards to transmission to your baby, there are very few reported cases of mother to child transmission (via placental barrier), this study suggests.
Undergoing pregnancy during coronavirus can be risky and certainly requires additional precaution. In addition to the steps mentioned above, please also include wearing a mask, washing of hands regularly with antiseptic sanitizer or soap, and maintaining social distance (2 meters or 6 feet).
