Giving birth during covid

Preparation for childbirth is a stressful moment for pregnant women, especially for mothers who are giving birth for the first time. It's the same when things go according to plan, feelings dag dig dug these do not disappear until the baby is born safely. Naturally, feelings of worry and anxiety increase ahead of childbirth during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Given that the coronavirus that causes COVID-19 is a new virus that scientists are not yet fully aware of, pregnant women need to follow precautionary procedures until the delivery process is complete.

Preparing to give birth in a hospital during the COVID-19 pandemic

Ardiansjah Dara Sjahruddin, SpOG, MKes, a specialist in obstetrics and gynecology at MRCCC Siloam Semanggi Hospital, explained the following preparations for childbirth at the hospital during the COVID-19 pandemic.

1. Have determined the place of delivery when the womb enters the third trimester

During this time of the COVID-19 pandemic, hospitals have several additional screening procedures before delivery. Pregnant women and their companions must check for COVID-19 symptoms and do so rapid test .

By determining the place of delivery early or not unexpectedly, the hospital has enough time to carry out a series of examinations.

2. Do quarantine or social distancing obediently

When COVID-19, pregnant women are advised to do quarantine or social distancing obediently during pregnancy or the few weeks preceding delivery.

“Don't go anywhere, as much as possible at home. For shopping, if you can ask for help from your husband or others, "said dr. Ardiansjah.

If you can't be represented and you have to leave the house, keep wearing a mask and keep your distance from other people.

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3. Be honest about complaints and travel history

During pregnancy control, pregnant women and one person who will accompany them during childbirth will be asked about their health complaints. This is done to prevent transmission of COVID-19 to the baby during childbirth, either from pregnant women or from a companion.

Doctor Ardiansjah explained that sometimes patients do not report travel history or minor complaints because they feel healthy or are afraid of being rejected by the hospital.

During the coronavirus pandemic, cases like this can endanger pregnant women, babies, and medical workers who help deliveries in hospitals.

"To be honest. Don't think about being complicated or afraid of being rejected by the hospital, because this is the goal to save the baby and the mother, ”stressed dr. Ardiansjah.

Newborns are one of the most at risk of being infected with COVID-19 because their bodies have not yet built up the body's defense system (immune).

Prevention of transmission of COVID-19 during childbirth

Apart from the above preparations, there are several rules at the hospital that pregnant women should know when giving birth during the COVID-19 pandemic. Prevention of transmission in childbirth depends on outcome rapid test which has already been done twice.

If both of them show negative results for the coronavirus, the medical officer who helps with the delivery process will wear level 2 personal protective equipment (PPE). Patients are also allowed to be accompanied by a companion during the delivery process.

According to the Ministry of Health, PPE level 1 suits are head coverings, surgical masks, medical work clothes, gloves, footwear; PPE level 2, namely headgear, goggles, N95 mask, gloves, work clothes covered with waterproof apron, and footwear; and PPE level 3, namely the suit of PPE level 2 plus clothes coverall (hazmat) and waterproof boots.

If rapid test shows a positive result, pregnant women will carry out a more accurate COVID-19 test, namely a diagnostic test polymerase chain reaction (PCR).

The PCR test results take a few days. If the time for delivery arrives before the test results come out, the delivery process will be carried out with a more stringent procedure.

Medical staff who help with the delivery process will use PPE level 3. The companion is not allowed to accompany the delivery process because until the PCR examination results come out, the mother who is going to give birth is considered positive for coronavirus.

After the delivery process is complete, the baby is immediately separated from the mother and placed in the NICU (Neonatal Intensive Care Unit), a special room for caring for newborns. Meanwhile, the mother will undergo treatment in an isolation room until the PCR test results come out.

Pregnant women who are considered positive for COVID-19 can still give birth normally, but several hospitals in Indonesia are currently choosing caesarean delivery for several reasons.

"The consideration is to accelerate the delivery process and minimize the transmission of COVID-19," concluded dr. Ardiansjah.