Strengths and Limitations
As a COVID-19-designated hospital in Wuhan, the pregnant women with
suspected and confirmed COVID-19 were admitted to our hospital. During
the epidemic, cesarean section and general anesthesia were preferred to
ensure that the delivery process is controllable, and to reduce
emergency respiratory problems and reduce the risk of exposure to
others. But the effects of these measures have not been fully proven6,7,8. During the epidemic, choosing cesarean section
blindly will cause the long-term adverse effects on women undoubtedly.
This study analyzed the pneumonia conditions, delivery conditions,
delivery outcomes, and neonatal infections in pregnant women with
COVID-19, and
evaluate the
effect
of vaginal delivery on pregnant women with COVID-19 and their newborns.
Based on the above data, we provided more suggestions for the choice of
delivery mode for pregnant women during the COVID-19 epidemic,
summarized the methods of infection prevention during vaginal delivery
and provide effective measures to avoid medical staff infection.
However, this study is limited by the small sample size, as the number
of pregnant women with clinically confirmed COVID-19 underwent vaginal
delivery is relatively small. This group of pregnant women are in
accordance with the clinical diagnostic criteria for COVID-19 in China,
but the pathogenic diagnosis is negative, but the false-negative results
of SARS-CoV-2 nucleic acid throat swabs could not be excluded
completely. For clinically diagnosed cases, close follow-up observation
would be required. In addition, for pregnant women with COVID-19
underwent vaginal delivery, it can provide an indirect etiology basis
for the existence of neonatal infection if the SARS-CoV-2 nucleic acid
detection of amniotic fluid, vaginal secretions and perianal secretions
can be performed.