What started as a 'strange disease' in the Wuhan region of China in the last days of 2019, which was not fully detected at first, was soon determined to be an infection triggered by a new type of virus belonging to the Coronavirus family. This new type of virus, which is thought to have been transmitted to humans for the first time from a place that sells seafood, has spread almost all over the world with an unpredictable speed, especially in China.
In humans, it ranges from a simple cold to Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome ( This new type of virus that causes SARS and MERS is 11.02. In 2020, it was named Covid-19 as the abbreviation of Coronavirus 2019 by the World Health Organization. Then, on 11.03.2020, the World Health Organization declared Covid-19 disease, in its simplest terms, a pandemic, which is the disease that threatens a large number of people in the world simultaneously. In this pandemic, which has continued at an increasing pace since the day it first started, there are 1,727,602 cases and 105,722 deaths worldwide today (April 11, 2020), according to Worldometers, a reliable reference website that provides real-time statistics.
The fact that it was not immediately understood what caused the disease and how it spread led to inadequate isolation. The numbers continue to rise rapidly in the charts because it takes time to realize that the disease is a serious condition that can cause death rather than a simple flu. Because there is no proven vaccine yet, and there are not enough medical teams, hospitals, beds, intensive care and respiratory support devices to carry out the treatment, the whole world was caught unprepared for the pandemic, causing panic and chaos in a short time.
This chaotic situation. The uncertainty of the situation naturally causes stress and anxiety in expectant mothers. However, information pollution on social media further increases anxiety.
Despite being caught unprepared, sharing experiences, data and new information very quickly all over the world allows rapid progress in the prevention and treatment of the disease.
1. Covid -19 We do not have enough information about whether it causes poor pregnancy outcomes such as miscarriage, stillbirth, congenital anomalies. Although the data is limited, there is no evidence that Covid-19 is transmitted to the baby in the womb. Although Covid-19 has not been detected in the placenta, amniotic fluid and breast milk so far, there are a small number of Covid-19 cases detected in the neonatal period, probably due to person-to-person contact after birth.
2.Covid-19 in pregnant women. Although it is not yet clear whether it causes a more serious disease, current data show that the rate of serious progression of the disease is not higher in pregnant women than in the normal population. However, pregnant women need to pay more attention to protection and isolation due to the changes occurring in their bodies and immune systems.
3. Pregnant women who have complaints such as fever, cough and shortness of breath should definitely consult a health center. High fever, especially in the first 3 months, can have a negative effect on the fetus. Pregnant women should be given priority for testing in these centres. If necessary, lung CT (computed tomography) can be performed with abdominal protection.
3. In pregnant women diagnosed with or suspected of having Covid-19, the type of birth should be planned in line with medical requirements in the same way as in pregnant women without the disease. Being positive for Covid 19 does not require a cesarean section. Due to the anxiety caused by the spread of the pandemic, it is a wrong approach to give birth to healthy pregnant women before their due date.
4. A pregnant woman who has been diagnosed with or suspected of having Covid-19 should notify the place where she will give birth in advance, if possible, when the symptoms of labor begin. This gives the birth team time to prepare the necessary protective equipment and the private room. The pregnant woman who has started labor must be evaluated by an anesthesiologist. It allows preparations to be made in advance for a possible emergency caesarean section. In cases where cesarean section is necessary, epidural/spinal anesthesia is preferred instead of general anesthesia. should wish. In order to minimize the spread of pregnant women who are not sick, they should have only one companion when they are hospitalized for birth and this person should not change. The pregnant woman and her companion must wear a surgical mask.
5. It has been reported in a limited number of publications that Covid-19 was not detected in breast milk, but more data is needed to clearly say that there is no transmission through breast milk. For a mother who is Covid-19 positive, the decision to breastfeed is left to her. If the mother's general condition is suitable, she can breastfeed by wearing a mask after hands are washed and disinfected appropriately. If the mother's general condition is not suitable and she still wants to give breast milk, milk can be expressed with a pump that has been washed and disinfected under appropriate conditions and given to the newborn baby. At this stage, it is recommended that the person who will give the milk to the baby or the healthcare provider should not be someone who takes care of the mother.
To date, our knowledge about pregnancy and breastfeeding is limited to this much. Whether Covid-19 has long-term effects will become clear in the coming days.
It is hoped that the pandemic will end by providing accurate information to the entire society, preventing the spread of false information on social media, and ensuring that every individual understands the importance of isolation and social distance.
After the acute period is over, the Covid-19 pandemic will end. Scientific studies on 19 will definitely continue, however, as individuals, each of us needs to evaluate and understand very well the message that Covid-19 gives to the world and humanity.
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