In the year of the pandemic, almost 2,000 children were born at the Botosani Maternity Hospital. To protect mothers and children from the virus that has wreaked havoc around the world, increased precautions have been taken, special protocols have been put in place, but a floor has also been set up for pregnant women suspected of COVID-19. However, some maternity doctors, especially those in the neonatology department, have discovered a worrying phenomenon. From what they have seen in current practice, in their daily work, they increasingly suspect that SARS-VOC 2 is responsible for the occurrence of particularly serious malformations in babies, being children whose mothers have been ill COVID-19 in the first months of pregnancy.
Large number of malformations
Doctor Carmen Zaboloteanu, head of the Neonatology Department at the Botosani Maternity Hospital, assumes that SARS-VOC 2 severely affected the pregnancies. It all started with a simple but tragic observation. In the last year, the number of congenital malformations has increased by almost 30%, only at the Botosani Maternity Hospital. Especially very serious malformations, impossible to fix, resulting in the death of the baby. “We have noticed at least in recent months, at the level of the Maternity, several cases of severe congenital malformations, with an increase of 3-4 times more than in previous years. We even saw 3-4 cases of severe malformations, almost uncountable with life. In previous years, I only saw such cases once every 4-5 years “, says Carmen Zaboloteanu.
From the studies made by the doctors from Botosani, they came to the conclusion that it is possible that these malformations were caused by the infection of the mothers with SARS-VOC 2, the most severely affected organ being the heart. “And then we thought doing a retrospective study that one of the causes for which congenital malformations have multiplied, especially heart, could be a SARS VOC 2 infection in mothers during pregnancy. The mother may not be aware that she has the disease, ie she may be in a completely asymptomatic form and not do tests because it is not necessary. But the child risks being left with consequences in the body in the future “, says Carmen Zaboloteanu.
Eugen Prăjinaru, another doctor from the Botoşani Maternity Hospital, reached a similar conclusion. He posted his findings in a public maternity group. “COVID-19 infections appear to have affected pregnant pregnancies. From personal experience, there have been more vital birth defects in the last year than usual, some related to COVID infections proven in the family. Who knows how many undeclared infections there were. When a pregnant woman gets a virus, no one, especially an unknown one, such as COVID-19, poses a high risk to the fetus. This can range from miscarriage to the most severe inoperable malformations, incompatible with survival. We have faced such cases and it is not at all pleasant to know that you have in the salon a patient with no chances for life and a family looking for answers “, stated Eugen Prăjinaru.
“The mutant effect of the virus causes disaster”
Doctor Carmen Zaboloteanu believes that SARS COV 2 virus infection could be dangerous throughout pregnancy, but it has devastating effects especially in the first months, when the baby’s organs are formed. “Especially during the first months of pregnancy when organogenesis takes place, when the heart is formed, the organs are formed, and then the mutant effect of the virus occurs and causes disaster. We are talking about two distinct situations. Regarding congenital malformations, we are talking about maternal infection in the first months of pregnancy. Conversely, if the infection occurs in the last trimester of pregnancy, then we are talking about premature birth or impairment of suffering in terms of birth. In any case, it is not good if the mother has this disease during pregnancy “, states Carmen Zaboloteanu.
Including viruses, which are usually a complication and in the case of COVID-19 can cause malformations. “As you know, many viruses that a mother can have during pregnancy can have serious consequences for the newborn. Many times, a common flu, a virus without consequences that the mother does not feel, a child may have serious health problems at birth “, adds the head of the Neonatology Department.
“I think the risks of vaccination are much lower”
Doctors from Botosani say they are waiting for complete studies on the influence of SARS-VOC 2 in pregnancy to be confirmed in order to confirm their observations from their daily work. “In the literature there are few studies at the moment. There are studies that show whether a SARS-VOC 2 infection during pregnancy has an effect on the baby at birth. We know that measles, rubella, herpes can have serious consequences. These are classics with proven studies.
Now, we will probably add SARS-VOC 2 to the list of those that can cause malformations. But there are still insufficient data in the literature. From the local observations, if it is confirmed, it is a rather serious thing “, says Carmen Zaboloteanu. At the same time, the neonatologist claims that the vaccine could save lives in this situation. “It would be okay to think about the one in the belly as well. I consider that the risks of vaccination are much less than having a child with malformations incompatible with life “, concludes the neonatologist Carmen Zaboloteanu.
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