A new study suggests that women with COVID-19 are unlikely to pass the disease on to their babies, provided precautions are taken.
The study, published in The Lancet Child & Adolescent Health, has monitored babies from three New York hospitals. Out of 120 newborns observed, none of them tested positive for the coronavirus despite being born from infected mothers.
Similar results were observed two weeks later as babies shared rooms with their mothers. Some of the newborns were even breastfed. While the results have been positive so far, the experts who conducted the small-scale study suggest more extensive trials.
Neonatal Management During the Coronavirus Pandemic
The observational cohort study covers newborn babies from March 22 to May 17, 2020. Mothers who gave birth to the neonates tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 at the time of delivery. They were allowed to practice "skin-to-skin care" and breastfeed their babies, provided that they wear a surgical mask in the presence of their newborn. Additionally, proper hand hygiene is required before making any form of skin-to-skin contact with their neonates.
When not breastfeeding or administering necessary care, the newborns are kept in a closed Giraffe isolette in the same room as the mother. Afterward, babies were tested for coronavirus through real-time PCR, or swab testing, during the first 24 hours, 5 to 7 days, and 14 days of life.
In the summary of their findings, they monitored 1,481 deliveries from three New York hospitals. One hundred sixteen or 8 percent of the mothers were positive. Of the 120 newborns, none tested positive within the first 24 hours. Eighty-two babies, or 68 percent of the sample, completed the 5- to 7- day follow-up. At the end of 14 days, 72 newborns were tested, and none of them exhibited symptoms or tested positive for coronavirus.
The changing number of neonates tested is due to safety concerns from the parents. Almost a third of the initially-observed babies were not brought back to the hospitals because of the pandemic.
Dr. Christine M. Salvatore, who led the observational study, said: "We hope our study will provide some reassurance to new mothers that the risk of them passing Covid-19 to their babies is very low."
She also reiterated that "larger studies are needed to better understand the risks of transmission from mother to child."
READ MORE: Are Face Masks Effective Against COVID-19? The Pros and the Cons
COVID Risks for Pregnant Women
A report supports the New York-based findings. The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists in the U.K. suggests that mothers share the room and even breastfeed, but with the appropriate precautions.
On the other hand, the U.S. Center for Disease Control and Prevention recommends a temporary separation between the mother and the child to reduce the risks of passing the infection.
The CDC has also released its tracking data for pregnant women with COVID-19 in the U.S.
Referring to a Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, or MMWR, published last June 26, it is suggested that pregnant women might be facing increased risks of contracting the highly contagious disease.
During the January 22 to June 7 surveillance period, 8,207 pregnant women tested positive for coronavirus. It equates to 9 percent of all confirmed cases in the United States within the same period.
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