Impact of COVID-19 in Pregnant Women and Vertical Transmission in Newborns; A Case Series

Abstract

Objective: To assess the impact of COVID-19 in pregnant women and determine the vertical transmission in newborns. Study Design: Case series. Place and Duration of Study: Department of Gynecology & Obstetric, Combined Military Hospital, Gujranwala Pakistan, from Jun to Sep 2020. Methodology: Forty consecutive pregnant women reported as COVID-19-positive cases were included. After taking clinical and demographic details, the maternal outcome was defined regarding shortness of breath, fever, oxygen saturation and ventilator support. The fetal outcome was defined based on APGAR score, birth weight, and Neonatal Intensive Care Unit admission. For vertical transmission, the neonatal nasopharyngeal swab samples were collected after 24 hours of birth. Result: Forty pregnant women were included in the study with the mean age of 30.05±2.8 years, and mean gestational age of 36.08±0.717 weeks. Of the included women, 67.5% underwent C-sections, and 25.0% underwent SVD. As per fetal outcome, most of the babies 80% were normally delivered, while 5% were IUD. Out of all, three neonates were diagnosed with vertical transmission, but none of them developed any complications. Conclusion: Vertical transmissions of COVID-19 among neonates were observed. No critical maternal outcome in terms of maternal severe morbidity or mortality was observed. However, further studies are required on this subject.

Keywords

• APGAR score
• Infant
• Newborn
• Pregnancy outcome
• Infectious disease transmission
• Vertical disease transmission