Coronavirus: Expert-Recommended Guidelines For Pregnant Women And Nursing Mothers

Coronavirus outbreak: There are a lot of questions that concern pregnant women and nursing mothers amidst the COVID-19 outbreak. Dr Madhur Jain, Neonatologist and Pediatrician  at SMS JkLon Hospital Jaipur, answers some common queries and shares guidelines for pregnant women during this pandemic.

How does COVID-19 affect pregnant women?

According to the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, pregnant women do not appear to be more susceptible to the consequences of infection with COVID-19 than the general population. It is expected that a large majority of pregnant women will experience only mild or moderate cold or flu-like symptoms. Until now, there's no evidence that pregnant women who get infected with COVID-19 are at risk of serious complications than any other healthy individuals.

As a precautionary measure, pregnant women should avoid interacting with people who are sick or who have been exposed to the virus, clean hands often with soap and water or an alcohol-based hand sanitiser and disinfect frequently touched surfaces daily.

According to WHO, pregnant women with symptoms of COVID-19 should be prioritised for testing. If one tests positive for the virus, one should contact their antenatal team to inform them of the diagnosis as soon as possible and ask further advice. Once she has recovered from the virus, an ultrasound scan will be arranged 14 days afterwards, to check on the health of both mother and baby.

Also read: Coronavirus Prevention Tips: How To Clean Your Groceries During The Coronavirus Outbreak? Our Experts Tell

Coronavirus: Breastfeeding guidelines

1. To reduce the risk of transmission of COVID-19 to the newborn, the baby may be temporarily separated from the mother with COVID-19, and given expressed breast milk if the separation period gets prolonged. Once the mother's symptoms improve and they are discharged, she can continue using expressed breast milk or to breastfeed, while taking necessary precautions such as washing hands before holding the baby, wearing a face mask when in close contact with the baby such as during direct breastfeeding and disinfecting contaminated surfaces.

2. Use a dedicated breast pump and clean it properly after each use by cleaning all parts that come into contact with breast milk.

3. If you are residing in the high-risk areas and have symptoms of fever, cough or difficulty breathing, seek medical care early, and follow instructions from a medical professional.

4. If a mother is a suspected or confirmed case then she should wear a mask when feeding or expressing milk for baby. Have the baby in a cot about 1.5 metres away from mother when not feeding and have someone else help with the care of the baby.

Also read: Coronavirus: Who All Are More Susceptible To COVID-19? WHO Tells

How to store breast milk?

According to The Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine, if you have expressed breast milk cleanly and safely, you can store it at room temperature, in the fridge, or in the freezer, on the basis of time of usage.

1. If the newborn is in a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) or in special care, you may have to follow stricter recommendations for cleaning and storage.

2. Always label the bottles or bags with the amount and the date of pumping when refrigerating or freezing expressed milk, to can track and manage your stored milk.

3. Pregnant women and women who have recently delivered - including those affected by COVID-19 should attend their routine care appointments and consult with their medical professional in case of further doubts and concerns.

4. As a general advisory, expecting mothers and nursing mothers should maintain sanitation, avoid unnecessary contact with people or surfaces, practice meditation exercises, eat healthy and stay hydrated.

Also read: Here's What You Need To Know About The Importance Of Vitamin D During Pregnancy

(Dr Madhur Jain, Doctor in Neonatology and Pediatrics at SMS JkLon Hospital Jaipur)

Disclaimer: The opinions expressed within this article are the personal opinions of the author. NDTV is not responsible for the accuracy, completeness, suitability, or validity of any information on this article. All information is provided on an as-is basis. The information, facts or opinions appearing in the article do not reflect the views of NDTV and NDTV does not assume any responsibility or liability for the same.