Abid Bashir

Srinagar (NVI): At least 75 pregnant women have tested positive for coronavirus in Jammu and Kashmir so far, prompting authorities to issue fresh guidelines in this regard and make it mandatory for all expecting mothers in the UT to go for Covid testing, two weeks ahead of their delivery date.

Strict social distancing measures are already in place in the Union Territory that has witnessed a surge in corona cases in the last few days.

Official figures accessed by NVI suggested that of the total 75 women tested positive so far, two have died before delivering their babies. A majority of the infected women are from Kashmir’s Anantnag district and their common contact was Child and Maternity Care Hospital where the first pregnant woman died along with her twin babies in her womb on May 2.

Medicos opine that pregnant women have a suppressed immune system which makes them prone to the virus.

A health expert working at a Srinagar hospital said that during pregnancy, the upper respiratory tract tends to be swollen due to high levels of estrogen, progesterone and restricted lung expansion, which makes expecting mothers susceptible to respiratory pathogens.

“A pregnant woman who tests positive for the virus should be carefully monitored throughout pregnancy and the postpartum period since they receive anti-viral drug therapy and radiation exposure from CT examinations,” he said, wishing not to be named.

Dr Shabir Sidiqi, Medical Superintendent at the lone maternity hospital Srinagar – Lal Ded – said that pregnant women are prone to Covid-19 as pregnancy weakens the immune system but they can reduce this risk by cutting the social contacts.

“Not only Covid-19, but in general pregnant ladies are vulnerable to respiratory infections,” he said. “There is no evidence for vertical transmission of the virus but an increased prevalence of preterm deliveries has been noticed,” he added.

The doctor said that there is no evidence that the virus can transmit to unborn baby. However, Covid-19 may alter immune responses at the maternal-fetal interface and affect the well-being of mothers and infants, he said.

Another expert, Dr Tabasum, who is Deputy Medical superintendent at Jawhar Lal Nehru Memorial Hospital Srinagar said that pregnant women are a bit more vulnerable to Covid-19 than the general population. “However, if pregnant women will follow the universal guidelines issued by World Health Organisation (WHO) and other organizations in letter and spirit, then chances of getting Covid positive are very less,” she said.

She, however, said that there is no evidence that that virus can transmit to a baby. “Mother-breast feeding is a must. But a mother should use protective gear while breastfeeding and baby must be kept away from infected mother soon after breastfeeding,” she said.

Dr Tabasum said that pregnant ladies from urban areas are following the guidelines like maintaining social distances and wearing face masks, as compared to those in rural areas due to which the most Covid-19 cases have been found in women belonging to these areas.

The doctor said that pregnant women must wash hands frequently, practice social distance, avoid contact with others as much as possible, get flu vaccination on time, use tissue while coughing or sneezing, do not ignore any respiratory symptoms, consider virtual consultations instead of prenatal visits to a doctor, do things that make them happy, exercise and do not take much stress.