Safety of vaginal delivery in women infected with COVID-19

Abstract

Background: There is limited data regarding the safety of vaginal delivery in women infected with COVID-19. Our goal was to assess the safety of vaginal delivery in women infected with COVID-19 and the risk of neonatal infection. Methods: This was a single medical center cohort study. Data were collected about the outcome of twenty-one women with laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 infection who delivered between March 23, 2020, and May 8, 2020. Results: Twenty-one gravidas were diagnosed with COVID-19 infection. None required admission to the intensive care unit (ICU) and there were no fatalities. Seventeen delivered vaginally and four by caesareans. Apgar scores of all neonates were 9 at 1 min and 10 at 5 min. One neonate was diagnosed with COVID-19 infection 24 h after birth. Conclusions: Vaginal delivery in women infected with COVID-19 is not associated with a significant risk of neonatal infection.

Keywords

• COVID-19
• Intrapartum transmission
• Neonatal infection
• Pregnancy
• Vaginal delivery