Journal of South Asian Federation of Obstetrics and Gynaecology

Register      Login

SEARCH WITHIN CONTENT

FIND ARTICLE

Volume / Issue

Online First

Archive
Volume  16 (2024)
Volume  15 (2023)
Volume  14 (2022)
Volume  13 (2021)
Volume  12 (2020)
Volume  11 (2019)
Volume  10 (2018)
Volume  9 (2017)
Volume  8 (2016)
Volume  7 (2015)
Volume  6 (2014)
Volume  5 (2013)
Volume  4 (2012)
Volume  3 (2011)
Volume  2 (2010)
Volume  1 (2009)
Related articles

VOLUME 14 , ISSUE 3 ( May-June, 2022 ) > List of Articles

Original Article

Birthing Experience and Perinatal Outcomes with COVID-19: A Prospective Study

Tazeen Ahmed, Nina Navakumar, Vidyalekshmy Ranganayaki, Brinda Sabu, Sajith Mohan, Muhammad Niyas

Keywords : Antenatal, COVID-19, Labor, Perinatal outcome, Positive childbirth experience

Citation Information : Ahmed T, Navakumar N, Ranganayaki V, Sabu B, Mohan S, Niyas M. Birthing Experience and Perinatal Outcomes with COVID-19: A Prospective Study. J South Asian Feder Obs Gynae 2022; 14 (3):242-247.

DOI: 10.5005/jp-journals-10006-2057

License: CC BY-NC 4.0

Published Online: 27-07-2022

Copyright Statement:  Copyright © 2022; The Author(s).


Abstract

Aim: To study childbirth experience of women with coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) at our institute and to assess clinical characteristics, maternal, and perinatal outcomes of SARS-CoV-2-positive pregnancies. Materials and methods: We conducted a prospective cohort study of all SARS-CoV-2-positive women who delivered at our institute from 1 September 2020 to 31 March 2021. The data was collected from labor room birth register, electronic medical record (EMR), and feedback questionnaire, Kerala Institute of Medical Sciences–Childbirth Experience Questionnaire (KIMS–CEQ), filled by women to express their childbirth experience. Results: Of the 50 women we studied, 84% were asymptomatic. In contrast to the majority of the studies published till now, preterm labor in our study was noted only in 12% cases. In our study, 62% delivered vaginally and cesarean section (CS) rate was 38%. All cesarean deliveries were done only for obstetric or fetal indications. A total of 6% women had minor peripartum complications. Majority of the neonates had normal appearance, pulse, grimace, activity, and respiration (APGAR) scores, and all were COVID-19 screen negative; 12% required neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) admission; 84% women opted to breastfeed their babies (direct breastfeeding or expressed breast milk) maintaining all precautions and hygiene they were taught; 88% women experienced positive childbirth experience based on KIMS–CEQ score. Conclusion: In our study, the pregnancy complications including the pre-term labor and severity of COVID-19 are not found to be above those in screen negative pregnant women nor any case of vertical transmission of SARS-CoV-19 reported. Our study is unique as it also assesses the birthing experience in women with COVID-19 which shows that most of them had a positive birth experience at our institute. The COVID-19 status should not deprive any women of her childbirth rights, although more precautions are warranted. Clinical significance: A positive or negative childbirth experience can have far-reaching consequences in life of a woman and the newborn. It is the need of the hour to address the important issue of positive birth experience, especially during the era of ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The KIMS–CEQ provides an efficient tool to assess birthing experience of women with COVID-19.

PDF Share
  1. Karavadra B, Stockl A, Prosser-Snelling E, et al. Women's perceptions of COVID-19 and their healthcare experiences: a qualitative thematic analysis of a national survey of pregnant women in the United Kingdom. BMC Pregnancy Childbirth 2020;20(1):600–607. DOI: 10.1186/s12884-020-03283-2.
  2. Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists. Coronavirus (COVID-19) Infection in Pregnancy; Information for healthcare professionals RCOG 2021. https://www.rcm.org.uk/media/4724/2021-02-19-coronavirus-covid-19-infection-in-pregnancy- v13.pdf.
  3. Allotey J, Stallings E, Bonet M, et al. Clinical manifestations, risk factors, and maternal and perinatal outcomes of coronavirus disease 2019 in pregnancy: living systematic review and meta-analysis. Brit Med J 2020;370:m3320. DOI: 10.1136/bmj.m3320.
  4. Inversetti A, Fumagalli S, Nespoli A, et al. Childbirth experience and practice changing during COVID-19 pandemic: a cross-sectional study. Nurs Open 2021;8(6):3627–3634. DOI: 10.1002/nop2.913.
  5. Thomas B, Pallivalapila A, El Kassem W, et al. Maternal and perinatal outcomes and pharmacological management of COVID-19 infection in pregnancy: a systematic review protocol. Syst Rev 2020;9(1):161. DOI: 10.1186/s13643-020-01418-2.
  6. World Health Organization. WHO recommendations: Intrapartum care for a positive childbirth experience. 2018. PMID: 30070803.
  7. Ajayi KV, Harvey IS, Panjwani S, et al. Lived experiences of pregnant and new mothers during COVID-19 pandemic: a narrative analysis of YouTube birth stories. medRxiv 2020. DOI: 10.1101/2020.12.28.20248958.
  8. Dencker A, Taft C, Bergqvist L, et al. Childbirth experience questionnaire (CEQ): development and evaluation of a multidimensional instrument. BMC Pregnancy Childbirth 2010;10:81. DOI: 10.1186/1471-2393-10-81.
  9. Walker KF, Wilson P, Bugg GJ, et al. Childbirth experience questionnaire: validating its use in the United Kingdom. BMC Pregnancy Childbirth 2015;15:86. DOI: 10.1186/s12884-015- 0513-4.
  10. Ghanbari–Homayi S, Dencker A, Fardiazar Z, et al. Validation of the Iranian version of the childbirth experience questionnaire 2.0. BMC Pregnancy Childbirth 2019;19(1):465. DOI: 10.1186/s12884-019-2606-y.
  11. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). CDC criteria for anemia in children and childbearing-aged women. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep 1989;38(22):400–404. PMID: 2542755.
  12. Toro FD, Gjoka M, Lorenzo GD, et al. Impact of COVID-19 on maternal and neonatal outcomes: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Clin Microbiol Infect 27(1):36–46. DOI: 10.1016/j.cmi.2020.10.007.
  13. Dubey P, Reddy SY, Manuel S, et al. Maternal and neonatal characteristics and outcomes among COVID-19 infected women: an updated systematic review and meta-analysis. Eur J Obstet Gynecol Reprod Biol 2020;252:490–501. DOI: 10.1016/j.ejogrb.2020.07.034.
  14. Jafari M, Pormohammad A, Sheikh Neshin SA, et al. Clinical characteristics and outcomes of pregnant women with COVID-19 and comparison with control patients: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Rev Med Virol 2021;31(5):1–16. DOI: 10.1002/rmv.2208.
  15. Smith V, Seo D, Warty R, et al. Maternal and neonatal outcomes associated with COVID-19 infection: a systematic review. PLoS One 15(6):e0234187. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0234187.
  16. Akhtar H, Patel C, Abuelgasim E, et al. COVID-19 (SARS-CoV-2) infection in pregnancy: a systematic review. Gynecol Obstet Invest 2020;85(4):295–306. DOI: 10.1159/000509290.
  17. Martínez–Perez O, Vouga M, Cruz Melguizo S, et al. Association between mode of delivery among pregnant women with COVID-19 and maternal and neonatal outcomes in Spain. JAMA 2020;324(3):296–299. DOI: 10.1001/jama.2020.10125.
  18. Karami P, Naghavi M, Feyzi A, et al. Mortality of a pregnant patient diagnosed with COVID-19: a case report with clinical, radiological, and histopathological findings. Travel Med Infect Dis 2020;101665. DOI: 10.1016/j.tmaid.2020.101665.
  19. Barbara C, Barratt I, Townsend R, et al. Effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on maternal and perinatal outcomes: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Lancet Glob Health 2021;9(6):e759–e772. DOI: 10.1016/S2214-109X(21)00079-6.
  20. Dube R, Kar SS. COVID-19 in pregnancy: the fetal perspective-a systematic review. BMJ Paediatr Open 2020;4(1):e000859. DOI: 10.1136/bmjpo-2020-000859.
  21. Melo GC, Araújo KCGM. COVID-19 infection in pregnant women, preterm delivery, birth weight, and vertical transmission: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Cad Saude Publica 2020;36(7):e00087320. DOI: 10.1590/0102-311x00087320.
  22. Khalil A, von Dadelszen P, Draycott T, et al. Change in the incidence of stillbirth and preterm delivery during the COVID-19 pandemic. JAMA 2020;324(7):705–706. DOI: 10.1001/jama.2020.12746.
  23. Yap M, Debenham L, Kew T, et al. Clinical manifestations, prevalence, risk factors, outcomes, transmission, diagnosis and treatment of COVID-19 in pregnancy and postpartum: a living systematic review protocol. BMJ Open 2020;10:e041868. DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2020-041868.
  24. Ravaldi C, Wilson A, Ricca V, et al. Pregnant women voice their concerns and birth expectations during the COVID-19 pandemic in Italy. Women Birth 2021;34(4):335–343. DOI: 10.1016/j.wombi.2020.07.002.
  25. Hodnett ED, Gates S, Hofmeyr GJ, et al. Continuous support for women during childbirth. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2007;18(3):CD003766. DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD003766.pub2.
  26. Ford E, Ayers S, Wright DB. Measurement of maternal perceptions of support and control in birth (SCIB). J womens health (Larchmt) 2009;18(2):245–252. DOI: 10.1089/jwh.2008.0882.
  27. National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence: Clinical Guidelines. Review. Intrapartum care care of healthy women and their babies during childbirth. PMID: 25950072.
  28. Green JM, Coupland VA, Kitzinger JV. Expectations, experiences, and psychological outcomes of childbirth: a prospective study of 825 women. Birth 1990;17(1):15–24. DOI: 10.1111/j.1523-536x.1990.tb00004.x.
  29. Green JM, Baston HA. Feeling in control during labor: concepts, correlates, and consequences. Birth 2003;30(4):235–247. DOI: 10.1046/j.1523-536x.2003.00253.x.
  30. Hodnett ED: Pain and women's satisfaction with the experience of childbirth: a systematic review. Am J Obstet Gynecol 2002;186(5 Suppl Nature):S160–172. DOI: 10.1067/mob.2002.121141.
  31. Lavender T, Walkinshaw SA, Walton I. A prospective study of women's views of factors contributing to a positive birth experience. Midwifery 1999;15(1):40–46. DOI: 10.1016/s0266-6138(99)90036-0.
  32. Brown S, Lumley J. Satisfaction with care in labor and birth: a survey of 790 Australian women. Birth 1994;21(1):4–13. DOI: 10.1111/j.1523-536x.1994.tb00909.x.
  33. Waldenstrom U. Experience of labor and birth in 1111 women. J Psychosom Res 1999;47(5):471–482.
  34. Mappa I, Distefano FA, Rizzo G. Effects of coronavirus 19 pandemic on maternal anxiety during pregnancy: a prospectic observational study. J Perinat Med 2020;48:545–550. DOI: 10.1515/jpm-2020-0182.
  35. Bivia–Roig G, La Rosa VL, Gomez–Tebar M, et al. Analysis of the impact of the confinement resulting from COVID-19 on the lifestyle and psychological wellbeing of Spanish pregnant women: an Internet-based cross-sectional survey. Int J Environ Res Public Health 2020;17(16):5933. DOI: 10.3390/ijerph17165933.
  36. Wu Y, Zhang C, Liu H, et al. Perinatal depressive and anxiety symptoms of pregnant women during the coronavirus disease 2019 outbreak in China. Am J Obstet Gynecol 2020;223:240.e1–240.e9. DOI: 10.1016/j.ajog.2020.05.009.
  37. Mollard E, Wittmaack A. Experiences of women who gave birth in US hospitals during the COVID-19 pandemic. J Patient Exp 2021;8:2374373520981492. DOI: 10.1177/2374373520981492.
  38. Bertholdt C, Epstein J, Banasiak C, et al. Birth experience during COVID-19 confinement (CONFINE): protocol for a multicenter prospective study. BMJ Open 2020;10:e043057. DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2020-043057.
PDF Share
PDF Share

© Jaypee Brothers Medical Publishers (P) LTD.