Download the all-new Republic app:

Published 16:57 IST, June 16th 2020

Study suggests coronavirus spread from mother to baby uncommon during delivery

The study contradicted some earlier claims by scientists who suggested mothers have cesarean and go into isolation right after giving birth.

Reported by: Vishal Tiwari
Follow: Google News Icon
  • share
null | Image: self
Advertisement

A new study has found that it is rare for newborns to contract COVID-19 from their mothers as suggested earlier by scientists. The new study published in BJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, said that babies that are born vaginally and are breastfed have no greater risk of getting infected than those who are born through the caesarean process. The study contradicted some earlier claims by scientists who suggested mothers have caesarean and go into isolation right after giving birth to reduce the risk of mother-baby coronavirus spread.

Read: Experts Warn COVID-19 Vaccines Might Be Ineffective, Come With 'limitation'

Advertisement

Scientists had earlier issued guidelines that suggested C-section delivery for mothers and formula feed for babies in order to reduce the risk of COVID-19 transmission from parents. However, as per the new analysis published in the study, only 2.7 percent of babies delivered vaginally contracted coronavirus in contrast to a 5.3 percent transmission rate in c-section deliveries. The research analysed 666 babies and 655 mothers from 49 different studies into the matter. 

Read: UK: Imperial College To Start Human Trials Of Potential COVID-19 Vaccine

Advertisement

Similar claims by another study

Another study from Spain suggested that women who go for caesarean delivery rather than normal vaginal delivery are more prone to getting infected by the virus. The study said that 13.5% percent of the 37 women who went for C-section deliveries were admitted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) after giving birth. While only 5 percent of women who gave birth vaginally developed a need for oxygen. 

Read: COVID-19: New Projection Predicts 201,129 Deaths By Beginning Of October In US

Advertisement

Read: How COVID-19 Is Affected By Temperature, And How Risky Is C-section Amid Pandemic
 

16:57 IST, June 16th 2020