According to a Wayne State University School of Medicine study, pregnant women with Covid-19 are more likely to deliver prematurely. In addition, the more severe the infection, the greater the risk of preeclampsia, a leading cause of perinatal death.
The study analyzed the process of 1,000 pregnant women and found that preterm delivery depended on the severity of Covid-19 infection. Some developed symptoms such as seizures and bleeding, and the risk of preeclampsia was five times higher in women with severe cases of Covid-19 infection than others. Part of this association was due to doctors deciding to medically induce labor because of the risk to the health of both mother and baby.
The correlation between overweight and obesity at the beginning of pregnancy was taken into account, as it significantly increased the vulnerability to Covid-19 infection. This problem is compounded by underlying diseases such as asthma, diabetes, hypertension, liver disease and seizure disorders.
Mother-to-child transmission of Covid-19 is rare, according to the findings of the Gestational Research Assessments for Covid-19 study, conducted by researchers at the U.S. National Institute of Child and Human Health. This situation occurred in only 1% of patients studied before hospital discharge.
To address the threats to mothers during pregnancy, monitoring and improving well-being before and during gestation is recommended. Similarly, it is necessary to link families with medical and social services to obtain timely care.
Preterm birth is the leading cause of perinatal mortality in the world. It occurs 37 weeks before the end of gestation. It consists of a sudden increase in blood pressure after the 20th week of pregnancy. Preeclampsia is responsible for 76,000 maternal deaths and 500,000 infant deaths annually.
