A Reading on

GIVING BIRTH DURING PANDEMIC (CORONA VIRUS)

In Partial Fulfillment of the

Requirements in NCM 204 -

DELIVERY ROOM NURSING ROTATION

Submitted to:

MRS. JENNIFER YBAÑEZ, RN

Submitted by:

ORBINO, MHARK LOWELL M., StN

BSN 2Q – GROUP 5

NOVEMBER 18, 2022

TITLE OF THE ARTICLE:
PREGNANCY DURING THE PANDEMIC
BIBLIOGRAPHY:

Schwandt, H. (n.d.). Pregnancy during the pandemic. EconStor. Retrieved November

17, 2022, from https://www.econstor.eu/handle/10419/243447

SUMMARY:
There are several concerns regarding how COVID-19 will affect expectant moms
and their unborn children. Comparatively, the Spanish Flu pandemic had catastrophic
effects on pregnant women's health, and it is well established that influenza exposure
during pregnancy harms children in both the short- and long-term. However, the
evidence from the COVID-19 pandemic permits cautious optimism regarding the effects
of COVID-19 on expectant mothers and their unborn children. In the United States,
more than 2.5 million women are currently expecting babies, and many of them are
concerned about the potential effects of a coronavirus infection on mothers and the
growth of their unborn children. According to a substantial body of research on the fetal
origins theory, pregnancy-related disorders can have an adverse effect on the child in
addition to the mother.
Although it is still unknown for definite whether maternal coronavirus infections
affect fetal development, the available data encourages cautious optimism. While
infections do occur in pregnant women, the majority are mild or stay asymptomatic, and
the rate of reported COVID-19 mortality among pregnant women is minimal. In most
cases, COVID19 tests come out negative in children delivered to moms who had the
virus while pregnant. The current experience with coronavirus infections, which
frequently go mostly unreported in expectant moms, could not be more dissimilar from
this substantial impact. This takes us to the final query in comparing the relative hazards
of the two pandemics to a growing baby: Is a fetus' exposure to a mother's moderate
coronavirus infection beneficial or harmful?
Strong maternal reactions seen during influenza infections may exhaust the
mother's body, but they may also be an effective response, such as a defense against
the virus itself protecting the fetus. It turns out that when a pregnant woman acquires
the coronavirus or the influenza virus, the fetus typically does not become affected (the
virus does not pass the placenta). Fetal development is hampered by the robust
maternal reaction to the influenza virus. Strong immune system reactions can cause
widespread inflammations in the fetus that not only fight the virus but also harm healthy
tissue like the placenta. Therefore, the modest immunological response of pregnant
women to COVID-19 is encouraging.
It is crucial to underline that we still know very little about the hazards posed by
the coronavirus. Daily new study findings teach us something new. The good news is
that, based on what we now know, the coronavirus appears to affect pregnant women
less severely than influenza. Although it has been demonstrated that immune system
responses brought on by maternal influenza infections can harm fetal development, this
does not appear to be the case in this case. Of course, even if they are not immediately
apparent at birth, other abnormalities in the progeny could still develop later. And
whether babies exposed to COVID-19 in the first or second trimester will exhibit
symptoms of damage at birth, only time will tell. However, the evidence that is currently
available gives rise to the cautious optimism that expecting mothers and their unborn
children would do significantly better than they did during the previous deadly global
pandemic at the turn of the 20th century.
REACTION:
The pregnancy during pandemic article tackles the differences between the
1918/19 Spanish flu and Coronavirus and its effect to pregnant women. Yes, I do agree
with the article for it was able to elaborate the differences of the two deadly global
pandemic. I realize that the Spanish flu and Coronavirus have different severe effect to
pregnant and that Spanish flu is more harmful than the Coronavirus. Although we could
not still have an expected and exact result because scientist and other medical
professional researchers are still digging and looking for an answer. Nevertheless.
Every day, we are able to learn something that could help us to be knowledgeable. In
the contrary, I and my family still don’t have any experience about the said topic.
The positive impact of the article is that it was able to point out the differences of
the two and also it also able to point out the effect of influenza and coronavirus.
However, I could not specify any negative impact due to its well-made article and that is
also full of information’s. Its nursing implication/s is that it could used for any further
researches and also it could help to have an informatic symposium where nurses could
share the information written on the article to the future or expectant mother/s so that
their distress for any complications could be lessen.