This article was originally published by the UN News
New mothers and their babies are facing systems in crisis, including overwhelmed health centres; supply and equipment shortages; and a lack of skilled birth attendants, including midwives.
Ahead of Mother’s Day, recognized in May across more than 128 countries, the UNICEF chief warned: “This is a particularly poignant Mother’s Day, as many families have been forced apart during the coronavirus pandemic…It is hard to imagine how much the pandemic has recast motherhood”.
Country ranked birthrates
In the nine months span dating from when COVID-19 was declared a pandemic, the countries with the highest numbers of forecast births are expected to be India (20.1 million), China (13.5 million), Nigeria (6.4 million), Pakistan (5 million) and Indonesia (4 million). Most of these nations had high neonatal mortality rates even before the global health crisis.
UNICEF warns that although evidence suggests that pregnant mothers are not at greater risk of serious illness due to COVID-19 than other groups, countries still need to ensure they have access to antenatal, delivery and postnatal services.
Practical advice
While it is not yet known whether the coronavirus can be transmitted from a mother to her unborn baby, UNICEF recommends that all pregnant women protect themselves from the virus, closely monitor themselves for COVID-19 indications and seek medical advice if they have concerns or experience symptoms.
UNICEF appeal to Governments and healthcare providers
- Help pregnant women receive antenatal checkups, skilled delivery care, postnatal care and COVID-19 services, if needed.
- Provide health workers attending to pregnant women and newborns, with personal protective equipment (PPE), priority testing and a COVID-19 vaccination when available.
- Ensure infection prevention and control measures in health facilities are in place during and after childbirth.
- Enable health care workers conduct home visits for pregnant women and new mothers and use mobile health strategies for teleconsultations.
- Train, protect and equip health workers with clean birth kits for home deliveries where health facilities are closed.
- Allocate resources to lifesaving services and supplies for maternal and child health.
Nursing
UNICEF urges continued breastfeeding, even if a mother is infected or suspects she is, as the virus has not been found present in samples of breastmilk taken for analysis.
Mothers with COVID-19 should wear a mask when feeding their baby, wash hands before and after touching the child, routinely clean and disinfect surfaces and continue to hold their newborn.
They should continue medical support, including routine immunizations, after the baby is born.
Ms. Fore said we are living in “a time for unity, a time to bring everyone together in solidarity”.
“We can help save lives by making sure that every pregnant mother receives the support she needs to give birth safely in the months to come”, concluded the UNICEF chief.