Coronavirus Infection Not Linked To Neonatal Mortality Rate, Low Birth Weight

The risk of newborns catching an infection is higher. This risk has only increased during the pandemic. But a new study has said that Covid-19 infection during pregnancy is not linked to stillbirth. There is no evidence available to suggest that Covid infection in a mother-to-be can contribute to the neonatal mortality rate. A researcher from Imperial College London said that in fact, no babies died from coronavirus infection. Also, it didn’t increase the risk of stillbirth. It is also not linked to low birth weight. Babies weighing below 3 pounds are medically classified as LBW. But there are chances that Covid infection can increase the risk of preterm delivery.

Researchers, however, said that a detailed study is required to determine how the infection caused premature birth. The study involved the data of 4,004 pregnant women from the US and the UK with confirmed Covid-19 infection. All these women gave birth last year between January and August. Researchers studied their pregnancy data right from the start to the birth. Over 15 percent of American women reported premature birth. This is 57 percent greater than the national average of 10 percent. Around 12 percent of British women participants had a preterm birth. This figure is almost 60 percent higher than the country’s average of 7.5 percent. Researchers said that preterm deliveries in some cases could be because of doctors’ decision in view of concerns related to the impact of Covid-19 infection on both the mother and the baby.

Researchers noted that cases of spontaneous preterm delivery were lower than what was expected. They said that antibody response in pregnant women was similar to other patients. Another study said that pregnant women can transfer antibodies to babies in the womb to protect them against coronavirus. Researchers noted that detectable anti-Covid-19 antibodies were found in the newborn’s cord blood. It said that inoculating a pregnant woman can be beneficial in protecting the newborn from catching infections. Taking anti-Covid vaccines can increase the chance of transferring antibodies inside the womb.