KUALA LUMPUR – With the public increasingly concerned about being immunised against Covid-19 to curb infection, questions are being raised about whether the vaccination is safe for pregnant women.
According to veteran gynaecologist Dr Premitha Damodaran, this pandemic is unlike anything she has ever encountered in her 25 years of experience in pregnancy care and childbirth.
The Obstetrics and Gynaecology Department head at Pantai Hospital Kuala Lumpur urges expectant mothers to get vaccinated between weeks 14 and 33 of their pregnancies.
She assured pregnant women that post-vaccination side-effects such as soreness, headaches, nausea and fever will subside within a couple of days, and are harmless to mother and baby.
“A slight discomfort post-vaccination is still much better than not getting vaccinated at all.
“Without a healthy, well-protected mother, how do you expect her to deliver a healthy baby safely?” she said.
Generally, pregnant women are encouraged to take a flu and Tdap vaccine for protection against influenza, tetanus, diphtheria and whooping cough.
“When a woman gets pregnant, her body immediately changes to accommodate the baby’s health and safety. Her immunity drops and she is susceptible to various diseases,” she said in a media release issued by Pantai Hospital KL.
“So, you see, mothers have always been receiving vaccinations in their pregnancy to ensure that they can deliver healthy babies who are protected from disease.
“Right now, we need to get mothers to take the Covid-19 vaccine as the disease has proved to be much deadlier,” she added.
Virus-positive and expecting
Dr Premitha cautioned that in the case of Covid-19-positive pregnant women, the clinical staging of the disease may progress more drastically as compared with other individuals.
She said the woman’s condition may deteriorate rapidly because of the expansion of the uterus as her progress in the second half of pregnancy (late second trimester and third trimester) affects lung expansion.
“Thus, you see pregnant women who test positive for Covid-19 are often observed in the hospital until they are fully recovered,” she said.
“As consultant obstetricians and gynaecologists, it is our duty to ensure that all mothers experience a smooth and enjoyable pregnancy. However, (with) the pandemic, we are committed to work harder so these mothers can still deliver their babies safely,” she added.
Speaking on the concerns that mothers have on visiting hospitals during their pregnancy, Dr Premitha assured that hospitals are one of the safest places in which to be.
She noted that Malaysia has already completed the first phase of its national immunisation programme where 80% to 90% of healthcare workers have been vaccinated nationwide.
Being cautious and proactive
So far, all pregnant healthcare workers encouraged to get vaccinated have not had any pregnancy problems related to Covid-19.
(Pregnant) women should seek information from reliable sources instead of listening to stories shared on social media because every pregnancy is unique. So, talk to your doctor and discuss openly on how best to go through a pregnancy (during the) pandemic.”
On a related note, husbands need to play a more proactive role in taking care of their expectant wives. Dr Premitha advised husbands to stay vigilant and take extra precautions when returning home from work or running errands.
“While healthcare workers have managed to keep the environment safe for mothers and babies at the hospital, the real challenge is when they return home,” Dr Premitha said.
It is understandable that grandparents, family members and friends will be excited to welcome the new addition to the family.
“However, during the pandemic, it is best to avoid any visitors from touching the baby. You cannot guarantee that healthy-looking people are Covid-19-free as they may be asymptomatic.” – The Vibes, May 29, 2021
