UNICEF warns of the upcoming Mothers day before The Covid 19 pandemic threatens pregnant women and babies. Reason for concern of Children’s Fund of the U.N. are overwhelmed by coronavirus infections Health systems and medical Supply chains.
UNICEF an estimated 116 million babies worldwide will be born during the Covid 19 pandemic.
In many cases, the circumstances are not easy: global containment measures such as curfews are overburdened Health facilities, Supply and equipment shortages, and a lack of adequately qualified obstetricians because health workers, including midwives, are needed to treat coronavirus patients.
Women are afraid of births in hospitals
“Millions of mothers worldwide have embarked on a journey of parenting into a world as it used to be. They now need to prepare to give birth to a world as it has become – a world in which expectant mothers are afraid , in Health facilities to go because they are afraid of getting infected or failing to provide emergency care due to overworked health services and closures, “said Henrietta Fore, Unicef Executive Director.
Countries likely to have the highest birth rates in the nine months since the pandemic was declared are: India (20.1 million), China (13.5 million), Nigeria (6.4 million), Pakistan (five million) and Indonesia (four million).
Most of these countries had high infant mortality rates prior to the pandemic, which may increase with Covid 19 disease.
Well-off countries are also from this crisis affected. In the United States, where the sixth highest birth rate is expected, more than 3.3 million babies are expected to be born between March 11 and December 16.
In new York Authorities are looking for alternative birth facilities, as many pregnant women are afraid to give birth in hospitals.
Unicef demands from governments
– Support pregnant women with pregnancy tests, qualified obstetrics, postnatal care and care related to Covid-19 as needed.
– Ensure that health personnel are equipped with the necessary personal protective equipment and that priority testing and vaccination is carried out as soon as a Covid 19 vaccine is available so that high quality care can be provided to all pregnant women and newborns during the pandemic.
– Ensure that in the Health facilities all measures to prevent and contain the infection are taken during and immediately after delivery.
– access of health workers to pregnant women and newborns through home visits; Encourage women living in remote areas to visit maternal facilities and use teleconsultations.
– Training, protecting and equipping health workers with clean birth sets to accompany home births when the Health facilities are closed.
– Resources for life-saving services and medical equipment for maternal and child health.
Recommendations for pregnant women
Pregnant women recommended UNICEFto follow precautions against infection with SARS-CoV-2. Babies should also continue to breastfeed if the mothers are infected or suspect they are infected. The virus has not been found in breast milk samples.
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