Corona and Pregnancy

What is the risk of pregnant women catching the virus and becoming seriously ill?

It seems that pregnant women are not any more susceptible to corona, or developing a serious case of it, than the rest of the population. To date, there have been dozens of reports of pregnant women who caught the virus but none became seriously ill or died.

That said, given the fact that a pregnant woman's immunity system is weaker, and pregnant women are at higher risk for other viral illnesses such as flu, they must strictly uphold recommendations to decrease the chance of infection.

What is the treatment for a pregnant woman with coronavirus?

When a pregnant woman is suspected of having corona, a medical team consisting of epidemiologists, gynecologists, and anesthesiologists will meet to determine a treatment plan. Together they will evaluate the need for imaging, administration of medication and or oxygen.

How might the virus affect the fetus?

According to what we know at the moment, the virus does not seem to pass through the placenta, no traces of it were found in the amniotic fluid or umbilical cord blood, and there  have been no newborns born to women with corona who were diagnosed with the virus at the time of birth. Additionally, the virus was not found to increase the risk of miscarriage or birth defects. Nevertheless, it could cause changes in fetal heartbeat, and therefore, women who are ill with corona are recommended to wear a constant fetal heart monitor during the birth. It's important to bear in mind that corona is a new disease; therefore, we have only limited information on any possible impact on the fetus. Of course, that information could change as we gain more knowledge.

Corona & Childbirth

Is there a limit to the number of people allowed into the labor room?

Women who are not ill with corona or suspected of having it can come to the Sheba labor rooms with two escorts, one of whom may be a birthing coach. A woman who has tested positive for corona may come with only one other person, on condition that the other person does not have to be in quarantine and is aware of the dangers to escorts. The labor room staff will provide full protective gear.

Must a woman giving birth wear a mask?

All women coming to give birth as well as those who accompany them must wear a mask in the reception area, the labor rooms and the maternity ward. During birth, the woman may remove her mask if she finds it uncomfortable.

Is there an option for Rooming In?

Our maternity department is operating regularly. After the birth, women are entitled to choose between Rooming In or having their baby kept in the nursery between feedings.

How long after birth can I go to the Sheba Baby motel?

After a regular birth: 4-6 hours; after a more complicated birth: 12 hours; and after a Caesarian: 24 hours.

Is the Natural Birth Center still open?

Yes, all natural birth options are available at the Natural Birth Center, including water births – provided that the expectant mother is not ill with or suspected of having corona. Reminder: If this is your first birth, giving birth at the Natural Birth Center is conditional upon taking part in an advance tour of the Center.

How many women are in a room in the obstetrics ward?

1 – 2.

Is Sheba still running its prenatal classes and tours of the ward?

Tours and classes are taking place as usual. Reminder: we also offer digital classes so that you can be safe and take part from the comfort of your own home.

Is it safer to give birth at home in the era of corona?

Safety for mother and baby comes first; therefore, we recommend giving birth in a maternity hospital, not at home. Sheba's labor rooms are absolutely safe, completely separate from the area where there are women who have tested positive for corona or who are suspect of having it. All labor room staff are in full protective gear to provide maximum safety to mother and baby. There is no reason whatsoever to fear coming to give birth at Sheba. If you want to feel at home, you are invited to give birth at the Natural Birth Center and enjoy the calm, intimate, homey environment, without any medical intervention.

Births for Women with Corona or in Quarantine

What are the directives for women in quarantine who have contractions?

A woman before birth who may be a carrier of corona must come to the maternity triage room with one escort who does not need to be in quarantine. As soon as she arrives in the reception area, she must alert the staff that she must be in isolation. The birth and recovery will take place in an appropriate venue, separate from the other women.

Anyone who is in quarantine may not escort the woman giving birth.

Can a woman with corona give birth normally?

Yes. The need for Caesarian will be determined according to the regular criteria. It is also possible to receive an epidural or an IV with Pitocin, if necessary. In any event, the medical staff treating a women with corona will wear full protective gear.

How is the newborn liable to be affected?

There have been only a handful of cases where newborn babies caught the virus from their mother, but it is believed that infection occurred after birth, due to contact with the mother (not in utero). At the moment, there is no documentation of newborns contracting a severe case of coronavirus.

May the mother be with her baby after the birth?

Due to the tremendous importance of mother-infant bonding, and because, as previously noted, there has been no documentation of newborns with a severe case of coronavirus after catching it from their mothers, it is possible to consider allowing them to be together in the hospital in isolation, as long as the mother's medical condition allows it. Their location will be determined according to the condition of both mother and baby, hospital conditions, and Health Ministry recommendations, which are periodically updated. If the mother is anxious to prevent any possibility of her baby catching the virus, it is recommended that another family member who is not ill with corona care for the baby.

Can a mother with corona nurse her baby?

To date, there has been no documentation of traces of the virus in mother's milk; therefore, there is no reason why a woman who is ill with corona shouldn't nurse. The baby's chances of catching the virus are mostly through close contact with the mother who could pass it on via her respiratory fluids, especially when sneezing or coughing. For this reason, the nursing mother must adhere strictly to hygiene rules: wash hands before touching the baby, refrain from sneezing or coughing during nursing, and wear a surgical mask.

A mother with corona who want to express breast milk or prepare a bottle of infant formula must adhere to the same rules of hygiene. If possible, she should let someone else feed the baby. In addition, the bottle must be cleaned and sterilized after every use.

NICU

What precautions are taken in the NICU?

We learned during the first wave of corona that newborns and preemies do not get infected. In Israel, all the babies born to COVID-positive women tested negative. The medical staff in the NICU consider the parents an inseparable element of the hospitalization process and believe that their presence and physical contact with the baby are essential, both to them and to the newborn. As such, we encourage parents to stay at their baby's side in the NICU 24/7.

However, given that preemies have weakened immune systems, we've taken the following steps to ensure their health and safety:

• Entry into the NICU is restricted to parents only.
• Staff and parents must wear masks at all times. Parents will be allowed entry only after they have put on a mask and gown and have washed/disinfected their hands.
• Parents must not have fever or any other symptoms of illness. Parents who were exposed to a COVID-positive patient must be in quarantine.
• Our staff has been directed to return straight home after their shift and not to spend time outside for too long so as not to risk exposure. We recommend that parents do the same.

ASK US!

If you have any questions about the departments or services provided at Sheba Medical Center or connected to treatment of corona at Sheba, call us at our Families Service hotline at 03-530700 ext. #1 between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. or Email us at sherut@sheba.gov.il. For other information in Israel, call the Health Ministry hotline *5400.