RESUMO
(1) Background: The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has led to an increasing number of women giving birth while also grappling with SARS-CoV-2. The objective of this review is to examine the possibility of transmission of the virus from mother to infant through breastfeeding, skin-to-skin contact, and rooming-in and to explore methods for managing COVID-19-positive mother-infant dyads. (2) Methods: A comprehensive search strategy was employed that covered pertinent studies from the Cochrane Library, PubMed Central, and Scopus databases. The Matrix Method and PRISMA guidelines were utilized by the researchers, with the search being updated until 20 December 2021, one year after the initial vaccine delivery. The inclusion criteria for the study involved articles published in English, those employing broad search terms, and those comprising full-text reviews. Additionally, the researchers required that the articles be published from December 2019 onwards. To further analyze the data, a meta-analysis was performed to estimate the rate of infant infection from mothers who engaged in breastfeeding, skin-to-skin contact, and rooming-in practices. (3) Results: Eighteen studies were analyzed in this review, with an infected infant rate of 2.8%. The maternal practices used in these studies ranged from direct separation of the infant to direct skin-to-skin contact, rooming-in, and exclusive breastfeeding. One study investigated the factors associated with positive test results in newborns and found that only the maternal social vulnerability index >90 was a significant predictor. The type of delivery, rooming-in, and the mother's symptom status were not associated with positive neonatal outcomes. (4) Conclusions: According to current data, the incidence of perinatal infection with SARS-CoV-2 is relatively low. It is advised that mothers adhere to several supportive care measures, including engaging in breastfeeding, skin-to-skin contact, and rooming-in. These measures ought to be complemented by diligent hand hygiene, the wearing of masks, and the cleansing of breasts solely when necessary.
RESUMO
With over a million people infected, the global pandemic caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has been growing at an accelerating degree. The rising mortality rate warrants identification and protection of the vulnerable populations in society. Despite the increasing number of published studies on COVID-19 in pregnancy, there are insufficient good-quality data to draw unbiased conclusions with regard to the severity of the disease or specific complications of COVID-19 with reference to the mode of delivery, vertical/peripartum transmission, and complications in neonates, born by infected pregnant women. Data on maternal and perinatal outcomes of women infected with the SARS-CoV-2 are limited to a handful of case reports and series. The sample sizes are small and findings are diverse. Regarding the mode of delivery in women with suspected or confirmed COVID-19, many studies conclude that the rates of Caesarean Section (CS) are higher in these women, despite the guidelines for vaginal labour. The aim of this critical realist review (CRR) is to investigate this phenomenon as well as the role of midwives in birth experience of women with COVID-19.
