5Shanghai Municipal Key Clinical Specialty,
Shanghai, China
Correspondence: He-feng Huang, E-mail:huanghefg@hotmail.com;Postal address: No.910 Hengshan Road, Shanghai, China. Postal
code: 200030. Work phone: +86-021-64070434
The author report no conflict of interest.
Word Count: 674
Funding: None
COVID-19 is still spreading rapidly around the world, with millions of
people having lost lives. Pregnant women represent a uniquely vulnerable
group in any infectious disease outbreak because of their altered
physiology, susceptibility to infections, and compromised mechanical and
immunological functions. Though the management guidelines during
pregnancy are evolving continuously, pregnant women suffered from
COVID-19 mean worse pregnancy outcomes, both physically and mentally. As
is reported more distress and psychiatric symptoms the infected pregnant
women would have than those who were assessed before the pandemic,
mainly in the form of depression and anxiety symptoms. What was worse,
COVID-19 may increase fetal complications including miscarriage (2%),
intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR; 10%), and preterm birth (39%).
Pregnancy is the window for the future, the COVID-19 could result in
short and long-term potential harmful to the neonate, including
malformation,
reproductive or sexual functions, or even intelligence. Early failures
in prevention of the virus have resulted in Domino effect, and “it’s
very tough for countries right now in Europe and North America going
back to another phase of potential lockdowns”, as a WHO officer said.
People are exhausted and very tired. However, there are still many
people who refuse to have a mask at public around the world during the
global pandemic.
In pregnancy, the evaluations of the safety the mode of delivery and
breast feeding mainly come from some case series. The limited sample
size limited statistical comparison between groups. In a case series of
13 pregnant women with COVID‐19, negative viral test results were
observed in vaginal secretion specimens, suggesting that a vaginal
delivery may be a safe delivery option. However, this case series did
not consider the risks of respiratory transmission of the virus from the
mother to the neonate during delivery or labor. Considering the above,
an analyses of neonatal outcome in 29 pregnant women with COVID-19 were
conducted, among which 12 of 13 hospitalized neonates presented with
radiological features for pneumonia through X-ray or CT screening, and
suggested that intrauterine or intrapartum transmission is possible.
Although a systematic review concluded that the rate of infection is no
greater when the baby is born vaginally, breastfed or remains with the
mother, the safety of mode of delivery among COVID-19 infected pregnant
women remains controversial and calls for prospective study.
Multiple COVID-19 vaccines are currently in phase 3 trials with efficacy
assessed as prevention of virologically confirmed disease. Vaccines have
been considered the promising way to effectively control the virus,
however, the effectiveness and safety of vaccines or drugs to be used in
pregnant women have been reported very few and need further
investigations. As reported in an example that respiratory syncytial
virus vaccination in pregnant women did not meet the prespecified
success criterion for efficacy against RSV-associated, medically
significant lower respiratory tract infection in infants up to 90 days
of life. On the basis of available data, and in line with the
precautionary principle, the risk of COVID‐19 in pregnancy should not be
downplayed to avoid falsely reassuring healthcare professionals and the
public and women should be advised to take necessary precautions to
avoid infection during pregnancy. However, it has been confirmed that
public health interventions could improve the control of the COVID-19
outbreak. The risks of respiratory transmission of COVID-19 from the
other to the neonate remain unclear and need further investigations.
Before that, the best suggestion in a non-effected population is still
physical distancing, face masks, and eye protection.
COVID-19 characters as strong infectivity, rapid and wide spread, and
have caused significant morbidity and mortality. In the 1902 paper,
Ballantyne said, “as with the premature, the ideal plan of procedure is
prevention”, the same principle with COVID-19. Before the assurance of
the effectiveness and safety of COVID-19 vaccines to be used in pregnant
women, strong actions of protection and prevention to be taken in the
non-infected pregnant population is still the best suggestion. Only by
this, can we see the turning point in the rising curve. The prevention
of COVID-19 in pregnancy calls for action, better late than never.