How to Protect Pregnant Moms and Newborns from Coronavirus

During the 2019-nCoV epidemic, Beijing United Family Hospital (BJU) is taking serious infection control measures to protect the existing patients, staff, and anyone visiting BJU during this time. Among high priority patients are pregnant women and newborns. In this article, our Obstetrics (OB), Gynecologists (GYN), and Pediatricians share their recommendations for mothers expecting to give birth in the next few months and families with newborn babies. 

1. Pregnant women should feel safe if visiting BJU as BJU is taking serious measures to protect patients and visitors 

For mothers expecting to give birth at BJU in the next few months, please be assured that all maternity wards are single rooms and disinfected daily, and there are windows in each room to allow ventilation. BJU is performing body temperature checks for all patients and visitors entering BJU, located at the entrance of Buildings 1, 2, and 3. You will be provided with a surgical mask if you don’t already wear one. Hand sanitizers are also placed on the wall at various locations. For families and friends, the visiting hours will also be strictly limited during this period.

In the event of a maternal emergency, the same screening process applies to the Emergency Department. At present, BJU is not one of the designated fever clinics but we are working on an upgrade to improve the care pathways and to expand the service areas according to the requirements of the administrative Department of Health. As such, anyone with a travel history to Wuhan or presenting to the Emergency Department with fever will be directed to one of the designated hospitals for further medical evaluation and treatment. To view the list of the 20 designated hospitals, click the link here.

2. Discuss your appointments with your doctor and follow medical advice 

Our OB/GYN doctors suggest that you must keep your prenatal appointments for the following tests:

- Nuchal Translucency (NT) test during 11-14 weeks of gestation 

- Ultrasound during 20-24 weeks of gestation 

- Oral Glucose Tolerance Test (OGTT) during 24-28 weeks of gestation 

- Any other ultrasound or tests as per doctors’ medical advice after 36-37 weeks of gestation 

It may be acceptable to reduce the frequency of visits to the hospital during pregnancy, but make sure you discuss with your doctors first before you make a decision. If you are unsure whether you should keep your appointment, it’s best to contact your OB/GYN to confirm. 

Please note, in order to further improve infection control and reduce the risk of spreading the novel coronavirus infection in the Hospital, Beijing United Family Hospital has temporarily suspended the WeChat and online appointment channels. During this period, if you have any medical needs, please call our 24hr Service Center at 4008-919191.

When you come to the hospital, make sure you wear a mask and limit your time of staying in the hospital as much as possible. If you have to wait for procedures or tests, consider staying in an open area rather than indoors. 

3. Protect yourself and your child

If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, and have a fever, cough, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, or diarrhea, monitor your body temperature regularly, and keep a record. Do not self-administer medications without professional medical advice. Speak to your OB/GYN for information on how to safely take medications. Seek medical help immediately if your newborn’s lips appear purple, has diarrhea, or difficulty breathing. 

With the current known knowledge about the 2019-nCoV epidemic, the mode of transmission among children is likely droplets and touching. Children are a vulnerable group, especially young children. However, mothers should stay calm as preventative measures are so far the most well-known measures to slow down the spread of the virus. 

Other suggestions for a mother to protect other children at home are the following: 

1) Stay away from the child if any family member has confirmed or suspected 2019-nCoV infection; both mother and child should wear a mask. Choose child-appropriate masks for children, however, it’s unsafe for infants (<1 year old) to wear masks. 

2) Practice general hygiene - parents should wear masks to protect infants who are not suitable to wear masks. Cough or sneeze into a tissue or your elbow, and discard the tissue into a closed bin, then wash your hands with running water and soap. Avoid kissing the child, breathing directly towards the child, feeding the child, or sharing eating utensils or cups. 

3) Practice hand hygiene at all times. Ask the child to wash his/her hands and avoid touching surfaces or objects in public areas. Avoid picking the nose with fingers, sucking on fingers, rubbing eyes, or touching surfaces in public areas (e.g., elevator buttons). Wash hands before eating and after going to the toilet. Teach children how to wash their hands properly by following the steps in the picture below. 

4) Keep the rooms well ventilated. Open a window for 30 minutes to one hour, 2-3 times a day. Keep the children warm while windows are open. 

5) Clean and disinfect the household areas using household disinfectants. Avoid children playing with your phone. Clean the phone, iPad, or other toys. Clean toys in boiling water for 30 minutes if possible, otherwise spray it with an alcohol-based disinfectant and place under the sun. Use a disinfectant to mop the floor 1-2 times a day.

6) Play sensibly and rest well. Avoid watching TV or playing video games for a prolonged period. Exercise if possible. Encourage children to take part in household chores and get the recommended amount of sleep. 

4. Pregnant women expecting to give birth within the next few months should be more careful.

With preventative measures taken at every step leading to giving birth, the risk of contracting a viral infection should be limited. It’s essential to strictly follow the preventative measures. 

5. General advice for women to stay safe at home 

The standard precautions to the public apply to mothers and children, as mentioned above. Among other measures, food safety is also a priority during pregnancy. Practice food safety by following the general tips below. 

Eat a balanced diet and exercise at home if possible. Keep an eye out for other symptoms such as rhinitis, pharyngitis, common cold, constipation, abdominal pain, or diarrhea. Avoid going to hospitals if unnecessary. 

Last but not least, follow medical advice and protect yourself, and stay calm so that you are in the best shape to protect your children and your loved ones.  

References:

[1] 妊娠合并新型冠状病毒感染管理策略建议！https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/IrnY17TQgWbsYa50xtsJpQ

[2] 湖北省儿童医学中心发布新生儿、儿童新型冠状病毒感染防控措施 

[3] Novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV) advice for the public. Accessed online on January 29, 2020. https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019/advice-for-public

[4] 怀孕生孩子那些事 之 “武汉肺炎”时期的产检攻略 https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/JT_1i0EUK5fYmEJ80G_QQg

To learn more about BJU services, or if you have any additional questions, please call our 24hr Service Center at 4008-919191.