Written By: Longjam Dineshwori | Published : August 3, 2021 6:06 PM IST
Image credits by: Preterm birth is when a baby is born before 37 weeks of pregnancy.
There have been studies that suggested that getting COVID-19 infection during pregnancy can lead to serious adverse outcomes for both the mother and baby, including preeclampsia, preterm births and stillbirth. One such study was published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal March this year. The authors from the University of Montreal in Canada that also said that pregnant women with symptomatic COVID-19 were more likely to suffer such adverse outcomes than asymptomatic patients. Another study published in the same journal has come up with contradictory findings.
A new study led by researchers in the University of Toronto found no significant increase in preterm births or stillbirths during the first year of the pandemic. Their findings might help alleviate concerns about the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on pregnancy.
Most studies that reported increases in stillbirths and some variability in preterm birth rates in the UK, Italy, India and others during the pandemic were small. The University of Toronto-led research team studied more than 2.4 million births in Ontario over an 18-year period and compared trends in the pre pandemic period (2002-2019) with the pandemic period (January to December 2020).
"We found no unusual changes in rates of preterm birth or stillbirth during the pandemic, which is reassuring," said Dr. Prakesh Shah, a pediatrician-in-chief at Sinai Health and professor at University of Toronto, as quoted by news agencies.
Several other studies are underway around the globe to understand the impact of Covid-19 on pregnancy and childbirth.
In many cases, the cause of stillbirth or preterm birth remains unknown. Some factors that are linked to such adverse pregnancy outcomes include infection, inflammation, stress, medical or pregnancy-induced disorders, genetic predisposition, and environmental factors.
Maternal prenatal exposures to air pollution, lead, some pesticides, perfluoroalkylated and polyfluoroalkylated substances, and phthalates are associated with increased risk of preterm birth. It is estimated that genetic factors contribute to up to 40 percent of all preterm births. Preterm labor is also common in multiple pregnancies.
Complications with the placenta are linked to most cases of stillbirths. Other common conditions associated with stillbirth include: bleeding (haemorrhage) before or during labour, pre-eclampsia, pre-existing diabetes, being over 35 years of age, being obese, smoking, drinking alcohol or misusing drugs while pregnant, etc.
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