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Sturrock S, Turner K, Lee-Wo C, BSc VG, Khalil A, Heath PT, Doare KL. The COVID19 Pandemic has Changed Women's Experiences of Pregnancy in the UK. Matern Child Health J 2023:10.1007/s10995-023-03681-w. [PMID: 37351720 DOI: 10.1007/s10995-023-03681-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 05/16/2023] [Indexed: 06/24/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION During the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, maternity care has been substantially altered to reduce transmission of the SARS-CoV-2 virus. Many antenatal services are now restricted or delivered online, and visiting has been restricted during labour and in the postnatal period. METHODS We conducted an online survey from 1st August to 31st December 2020 to investigate the experiences of women who were pregnant or breastfeeding in the UK during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. The survey included 55 open and closed questions and required 5 min to complete. We publicised the survey using social media. RESULTS We received 96 responses, including 66 currently pregnant women and 22 women who were pregnant during the pandemic. The response rate was 70.1% of survey views. We found mixed experiences of the impact of the pandemic on antenatal and perinatal care, notably with some women feeling visiting restrictions were insufficient and others feeling they were too strict. Twenty-nine women received no information about COVID-19, and 6 women found it very difficult to find information. Thirty-nine women would have liked to have more information about breastfeeding after a pregnancy affected by COVID-19, and 37 women wanted more information about antibody persistence and transfer. DISCUSSION Additional support is required for pregnant and lactating women during the current pandemic. Provision of information and support, including via social media, may improve women's experiences of pregnancy in the current environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah Sturrock
- St. George's Hospital NHS Trust, Blackshaw Road, London, SW17 0RE, UK.
- St. George's, University of London, Cranmer Terrace, London, SW170RE, UK.
| | - Kim Turner
- Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, USA
| | - Chelone Lee-Wo
- St. George's Hospital NHS Trust, Blackshaw Road, London, SW17 0RE, UK
- St. George's, University of London, Cranmer Terrace, London, SW170RE, UK
| | - Vanessa Greening BSc
- St. George's Hospital NHS Trust, Blackshaw Road, London, SW17 0RE, UK
- St. George's, University of London, Cranmer Terrace, London, SW170RE, UK
| | - Asma Khalil
- St. George's Hospital NHS Trust, Blackshaw Road, London, SW17 0RE, UK
- St. George's, University of London, Cranmer Terrace, London, SW170RE, UK
| | - Paul T Heath
- St. George's Hospital NHS Trust, Blackshaw Road, London, SW17 0RE, UK
- St. George's, University of London, Cranmer Terrace, London, SW170RE, UK
| | - Kirsty Le Doare
- St. George's Hospital NHS Trust, Blackshaw Road, London, SW17 0RE, UK
- St. George's, University of London, Cranmer Terrace, London, SW170RE, UK
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Pregnancy Outcomes in SARS-CoV-2-Positive Patients: A 20-Month Retrospective Analysis of Delivery Cases. MEDICINA (KAUNAS, LITHUANIA) 2023; 59:medicina59020341. [PMID: 36837541 PMCID: PMC9968024 DOI: 10.3390/medicina59020341] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2023] [Revised: 02/04/2023] [Accepted: 02/06/2023] [Indexed: 02/15/2023]
Abstract
Background and Objectives: The SARS-CoV-2 infection brings supplemental risks for pregnant women. Due to controversial hesitancy, their vaccination rate was lower in 2021 compared to the general population. In addition, access to maternal care was reduced during the pandemic. We conducted a retrospective cross-sectional analysis of the health records data over 20 months (1 April 2020 to 20 November 2021) aiming to explore the outcomes in SARS-CoV-2-positive cases referred for delivery to a tertiary public hospital in Western Romania. Materials and Methods: Women with SARS-CoV-2 infection diagnosed for the first time at the moment of birth who delivered singletons after 24 weeks of gestation, and had a clear immunization status were included in the analysis. Results: Out of the 97 patients included in the study, 35 (36%) had undergone ARN-based vaccination. Five cases of maternal death were recorded (all unvaccinated). Our retrospective exploratory analysis showed that the presence of COVID-19 symptoms in the SARS-CoV-2-positive patients made a significant impact on the delivery hospitalization, with a median hospital stay increase from 5 to 9 days (Mann-Whitney test, p = 0.014): longer hospitalization was recorded in the symptomatic cases irrespective of their vaccination status. No other adverse outcomes, such as gestational age at delivery, C-section rate, 5 min Apgar index, or birth weight were associated with the presence of symptoms. Conclusions: Our clinic maintained safe maternal care for the COVID-19 patients during the analyzed period. Vaccination of the expectant women was beneficial in SARS-CoV-2-positive patients by lowering the risk of COVID-19 symptoms, with subsequent implications on the newborns' health and maternal attachment.
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Costa R, Barata C, Dias H, Rodrigues C, Santos T, Mariani I, Covi B, Valente EP, Lazzerini M. Regional differences in the quality of maternal and neonatal care during the COVID-19 pandemic in Portugal: Results from the IMAgiNE EURO study. Int J Gynaecol Obstet 2022; 159 Suppl 1:137-153. [PMID: 36530002 PMCID: PMC9878220 DOI: 10.1002/ijgo.14507] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To compare women's perspectives on the quality of maternal and newborn care (QMNC) around the time of childbirth across Nomenclature of Territorial Units for Statistics 2 (NUTS-II) regions in Portugal during the COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS Women participating in the cross-sectional IMAgiNE EURO study who gave birth in Portugal from March 1, 2020, to October 28, 2021, completed a structured questionnaire with 40 key WHO standards-based quality measures. Four domains of QMNC were assessed: (1) provision of care; (2) experience of care; (3) availability of human and physical resources; and (4) reorganizational changes due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Frequencies for each quality measure within each QMNC domain were computed overall and by region. RESULTS Out of 1845 participants, one-third (33.7%) had a cesarean. Examples of high-quality care included: low frequencies of lack of early breastfeeding and rooming-in (8.0% and 7.7%, respectively) and informal payment (0.7%); adequate staff professionalism (94.6%); adequate room comfort and equipment (95.2%). However, substandard practices with large heterogeneity across regions were also reported. Among women who experienced labor, the percentage of instrumental vaginal births ranged from 22.3% in the Algarve to 33.5% in Center; among these, fundal pressure ranged from 34.8% in Lisbon to 66.7% in Center. Episiotomy was performed in 39.3% of noninstrumental vaginal births with variations between 31.8% in the North to 59.8% in Center. One in four women reported inadequate breastfeeding support (26.1%, ranging from 19.4% in Algarve to 31.5% in Lisbon). One in five reported no exclusive breastfeeding at discharge (22.1%; 19.5% in Lisbon to 28.2% in Algarve). CONCLUSION Urgent actions are needed to harmonize QMNC and reduce inequities across regions in Portugal.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raquel Costa
- EPIUnitInstituto de Saúde Pública, Universidade do PortoPortoPortugal
- Laboratório para a Investigação Integrativa e Translacional em Saúde Populacional (ITR)PortoPortugal
- Lusófona University/HEI‐Lab: Digital Human‐Environment Interaction LabsPortoPortugal
| | - Catarina Barata
- Instituto de Ciências Sociais, Universidade de LisboaLisbonPortugal
- Associação Portuguesa Pelos Direitos da Mulher na Gravidez e PartoLisbonPortugal
| | - Heloísa Dias
- Administração Regional de Saúde do AlgarveAlgarvePortugal
| | - Carina Rodrigues
- EPIUnitInstituto de Saúde Pública, Universidade do PortoPortoPortugal
- Laboratório para a Investigação Integrativa e Translacional em Saúde Populacional (ITR)PortoPortugal
| | - Teresa Santos
- Universidade EuropeiaLisbonPortugal
- Centro de Investigação Interdisciplinar em Saúde (CIIS) da Universidade Católica PortuguesaLisbonPortugal
| | - Ilaria Mariani
- WHO Collaborating CenterInstitute for Maternal and Child Health IRCCS “Burlo Garofolo”TriesteItaly
| | - Benedetta Covi
- WHO Collaborating CenterInstitute for Maternal and Child Health IRCCS “Burlo Garofolo”TriesteItaly
| | - Emanuelle Pessa Valente
- WHO Collaborating CenterInstitute for Maternal and Child Health IRCCS “Burlo Garofolo”TriesteItaly
| | - Marzia Lazzerini
- WHO Collaborating CenterInstitute for Maternal and Child Health IRCCS “Burlo Garofolo”TriesteItaly
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Muin DA, Neururer S, Falcone V, Windsperger K, Helmer H, Leitner H, Kiss H, Farr A. Antepartum stillbirth rates during the COVID-19 pandemic in Austria: A population-based study. Int J Gynaecol Obstet 2022; 156:459-465. [PMID: 34669186 PMCID: PMC9087755 DOI: 10.1002/ijgo.13989] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2021] [Accepted: 10/19/2021] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 has had dramatic effects on the pregnant population worldwide, increasing the risk of adverse perinatal outcomes. OBJECTIVE To assess the incidence of antepartum stillbirth (aSB) during the COVID-19 pandemic in Austria. METHODS We collected epidemiological data from the Austrian Birth Registry and compared the rate of aSB (i.e., fetal death at or after 24+0 gestational weeks) during the pandemic period (March-December 2020) and in the respective pre-pandemic months (2015-2019). RESULTS In total, 65 660 pregnancies were included, of which 171 resulted in aSB at 33.7 ± 4.8 gestational weeks. During the pandemic, the aSB rate increased from 2.49‰ to 2.60‰ (P = 0.601), in contrast to the significant decline in preterm deliveries at or before 37 gestational weeks from 0.61‰ to 0.56‰ (relative risk [RR] 0.93; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.91-0.96; P < 0.001). During the first lockdown, the aSB rate significantly increased from 2.38‰ to 3.52‰ (P = 0.021), yielding an adjusted odds ratio of 1.57 (95% CI 1.08-2.27; P = 0.018). The event of aSB during the COVID-19 pandemic was strongly related with increased fetal weight and maternal obesity. CONCLUSION In Austria, there has been an overall increase in the incidence of aSB during the pandemic with a significant peak during the first lockdown.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dana A. Muin
- Department of Obstetrics and GynecologyDivision of Feto‐maternal MedicineMedical University of ViennaViennaAustria
| | - Sabrina Neururer
- Department of Clinical EpidemiologyTyrolean Federal Institute for Integrated CareTirol Kliniken GmbHInnsbruckAustria
| | - Veronica Falcone
- Department of Obstetrics and GynecologyDivision of Feto‐maternal MedicineMedical University of ViennaViennaAustria
| | - Karin Windsperger
- Department of Obstetrics and GynecologyDivision of Feto‐maternal MedicineMedical University of ViennaViennaAustria
| | - Hanns Helmer
- Department of Obstetrics and GynecologyDivision of Feto‐maternal MedicineMedical University of ViennaViennaAustria
| | - Hermann Leitner
- Department of Clinical EpidemiologyTyrolean Federal Institute for Integrated CareTirol Kliniken GmbHInnsbruckAustria
| | - Herbert Kiss
- Department of Obstetrics and GynecologyDivision of Feto‐maternal MedicineMedical University of ViennaViennaAustria
| | - Alex Farr
- Department of Obstetrics and GynecologyDivision of Feto‐maternal MedicineMedical University of ViennaViennaAustria
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Epidemiology of Antepartum Stillbirths in Austria-A Population-Based Study between 2008 and 2020. J Clin Med 2021; 10:jcm10245828. [PMID: 34945123 PMCID: PMC8709287 DOI: 10.3390/jcm10245828] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2021] [Revised: 12/09/2021] [Accepted: 12/10/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
(1) Background: Across Europe, the incidence of antepartum stillbirth varies greatly, partly because of heterogeneous definitions regarding gestational weeks and differences in legislation. With this study, we sought to provide a comprehensive overview on the demographics of antepartum stillbirth in Austria, defined as non-iatrogenic fetal demise ≥22+0 gestational weeks (/40). (2) Methods: We conducted a population-based study on epidemiological characteristics of singleton antepartum stillbirth in Austria between January 2008 and December 2020. Data were derived from the validated Austrian Birth Registry. (3) Results: From January 2008 through December 2020, the antepartum stillbirth rate ≥20+0/40 was 3.10, ≥22+0/40 3.14, and ≥24+0/40 2.83 per 1000 births in Austria. The highest incidence was recorded in the federal states of Vienna, Styria, and Lower and Upper Austria, contributing to 71.9% of all stillbirths in the country. In the last decade, significant fluctuations in incidence were noted: from 2011 to 2012, the rate significantly declined from 3.40 to 3.07‰, whilst it significantly increased from 2.76 to 3.49‰ between 2019 and 2020. The median gestational age of antepartum stillbirth in Austria was 33+0 (27+2–37+4) weeks. Stillbirth rates ≤26/40 ranged from 164.98 to 334.18‰, whilst the lowest rates of 0.58–8.4‰ were observed ≥36/40. The main demographic risk factors were maternal obesity and low parity. (4) Conclusions: In Austria, the antepartum stillbirth rate has remained relatively stable at 2.83–3.10 per 1000 births for the last decade, despite a significant decline in 2012 and an increase in 2020.
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Ornaghi S, Fumagalli S, Guinea Montalvo CK, Beretta G, Invernizzi F, Nespoli A, Vergani P. Indirect impact of SARS-CoV-2 pandemic on pregnancy and childbirth outcomes: A nine-month long experience from a university center in Lombardy. Int J Gynaecol Obstet 2021; 156:466-474. [PMID: 34669973 PMCID: PMC9087530 DOI: 10.1002/ijgo.13990] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2021] [Accepted: 10/19/2021] [Indexed: 01/23/2023]
Abstract
Objective To determine the impact on perinatal health of changes in social policies and obstetric care implemented to curb SARS‐CoV‐2 transmission. However, robust data on the topic are lacking since most of the studies has examined only the first few months of the outbreak. Methods A retrospective analysis of prospectively collected data on uninfected and asymptomatically infected women giving birth between March and November 2020 and in the same time frame of 2019 at our tertiary care center in Lombardy, northern Italy. Perinatal outcomes were compared according to the year (2019 versus 2020) and to the trimester (March–May, June–August, September–November) of childbirth, corresponding to the three phases of the pandemic (first wave, deceleration, second wave) and covering a 9‐month period. Results We identified increased rates of gestational diabetes mellitus, spontaneous preterm birth, and neuraxial analgesia in 2020 versus 2019, with different temporal distributions: gestational diabetes mellitus and spontaneous preterm birth were more prevalent during the deceleration and the second wave phase, whereas epidural analgesia was more prevalent during the first wave. Conclusion By assessing a prolonged time frame of the pandemic, we show that pandemic‐related control measures, as applied in Lombardy, impacted relevant perinatal outcomes of women giving birth at our center.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara Ornaghi
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Unit of Obstetrics, MBBM Foundation Onlus at San Gerardo Hospital, Monza, Italy.,University of Milan-Bicocca School of Medicine and Surgery, Monza, Italy
| | - Simona Fumagalli
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Unit of Obstetrics, MBBM Foundation Onlus at San Gerardo Hospital, Monza, Italy.,University of Milan-Bicocca School of Medicine and Surgery, Monza, Italy
| | | | - Greta Beretta
- University of Milan-Bicocca School of Medicine and Surgery, Monza, Italy
| | - Francesca Invernizzi
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Unit of Obstetrics, MBBM Foundation Onlus at San Gerardo Hospital, Monza, Italy.,University of Milan-Bicocca School of Medicine and Surgery, Monza, Italy
| | - Antonella Nespoli
- University of Milan-Bicocca School of Medicine and Surgery, Monza, Italy
| | - Patrizia Vergani
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Unit of Obstetrics, MBBM Foundation Onlus at San Gerardo Hospital, Monza, Italy.,University of Milan-Bicocca School of Medicine and Surgery, Monza, Italy
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Bezerra Espinola MS, Bertelli M, Bizzarri M, Unfer V, Laganà AS, Visconti B, Aragona C. Inositol and vitamin D may naturally protect human reproduction and women undergoing assisted reproduction from Covid-19 risk. J Reprod Immunol 2021; 144:103271. [PMID: 33493945 PMCID: PMC7833496 DOI: 10.1016/j.jri.2021.103271] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2020] [Revised: 12/22/2020] [Accepted: 12/29/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
In late 2019, the new Coronavirus has been identified in the city of Wuhan then COVID-19 spreads like wildfire in the rest of the world. Pregnant women represent a risk category for increased abortion rates and vertical transmission with adverse events on the newborns has been recently confirmed. The scientific world is struggling for finding an effective cure for counteracting symptomatology. Today, there are many therapeutic proposes but none of them can effectively counteract the infection. Moreover, many of these compounds show important side effects not justifying their use. Scientific literature reports an immune system over-reaction through interleukins-6 activation. In this regard, the possibility to control the immune system represents a possible strategy for counteracting the onset of COVID-19 symptomatology. Vitamin D deficiency shows increased susceptibility to acute viral respiratory infections. Moreover, Vitamin D seems involved in host protection from different virus species by modulating activation and release of cytokines. Myo-inositol down-regulates the expression of IL-6 by phosphatidyl-inositol-3-kinase (PI3K) pathway. Furthermore, myo-inositol is the precursor of phospholipids in the surfactant and it is applied for inducing surfactant synthesis in infants for treating respiratory distress syndrome (RDS). This review aims to summarize the evidence about COVID-19 infection in pregnant women and to encourage the scientific community to investigate the use of Vitamin D and Myo-inositol which could represent a possible preventive treatment for pregnant women or women undergoing assisted reproductive technologies (ART).
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Matteo Bertelli
- MAGI'S LAB, Rovereto (Trento), Italy; MAGI EUREGIO, Bolzano, Italy; EBTNA-LAB, Rovereto (Trento), Italy
| | - Mariano Bizzarri
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Systems Biology Group Lab, Rome, Italy
| | - Vittorio Unfer
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Systems Biology Group Lab, Rome, Italy
| | - Antonio Simone Laganà
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, "Filippo Del Ponte" Hospital, University of Insubria, Varese, Italy
| | | | - Cesare Aragona
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Systems Biology Group Lab, Rome, Italy.
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