Management of a Pregnant Woman during the Pandemic of COVID-19: A Review

Abstract

Background: In late December 2019, a new coronavirus called SARS-CoV-2, as the causative agent of COVID-19 (coronavirus disease 2019) pneumonia, began to spread from Wuhan, China. The SARS-CoV-2 virus is currently threatening the world’s public health and so far, no specific and effective treatment has been found for the disease. Due to the physiological changes in the body of pregnant women during pregnancy, the occurrence of infection in pregnant women could affect the health of both mother and her fetus. The present paper aimed to study the findings related to the effects of coronavirus on pregnant women and their fetuses during pregnancy, diagnostic methods, care protocols in pregnant women, and postpartum care. Methods: The information included in this review was extracted from articles, published protocols, and valid statistics. In this study, articles indexed in Latin databases (PubMed, Google Scholar, Science Direct, Embase, Scopus), clinical protocols, and reports of reputable health organizations from January to august 2020 were reviewed using a combination of the following keywords: COVID-19, SARS-CoV-2, pregnant woman, and pregnancy. Conclusion: Due to the global prevalence of this virus, protocols and health care should be applied for pregnant women in accordance with other people. It is also necessary to take preventive measures at the community level. In this regard, the management of pregnant women with COVID-19 infection is of particular importance during the pandemic period of the disease. However, more extensive studies are required to validate these principles. This review summarized the precautions that should be taken before and after delivery. © 2021, TMU Press.