Midwifery and Nursing Strategies to protect against COVID-19 During the Third Trimester of Pregnancy

Abstract

Objective The rapid pace of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic (COVID-19) presents significant challenges to midwives and nurses. This study aimed to explore midwifery and nursing interventions to limit the transmission of COVID-19 among women in their third trimester of pregnancy, to reduce the incidence of nosocomial infection and promote safety of care for women and their infants. Method We completed a retrospective review of medical records from 35 women in their third trimester of pregnancy with SARS-CoV-2, admitted to one hospital in Wuhan, China in January and February 2020. We investigated the clinical characteristics of the COVID-19 infection in pregnancy, and the individualized midwifery and nursing care offered, including environmental protection, prevention of nosocomial infection, maternal observations, monitoring of signs and symptoms of COVID-19, and psychological care. Result Thirty-one women had a caesarean section, and four had vaginal births. Retrospective analysis of midwifery and nursing strategies implemented to care for these women showed no maternal complications or nosocomial infections. Conclusions and implications for practice The care strategies we implemented could prevent complications and nosocomial infection in the third trimester of pregnancy, thus ensuring the safety of women and their infants. Further research needs to determine treatment priorities for women infected with COVID-19 during pregnancy and the postnatal period.

The COVID-19 Pandemic in Spain: Experiences of Midwives on the Healthcare Frontline

“…In turn, the interviewed midwives highlight the strength and empowerment that the pandemic has obliged them to generate as an element of resilience after assessing the power that they hold in their actions both in health management and administration and in caring for women, creating or improving strategies to provide proper care to the women they look after. An example of this can be found in the research undertaken by Liu et al [ 36 ] describing the strategies devised by midwives and nurses to limit the transmission of COVID-19 among infected women in their third trimester of pregnancy, reduce the incidence of nosocomial infections, and promote safety in the care of the women and their babies. Another example is that provided in the study of Homer et al [ 37 ] on independent midwives and the strategies that they have adapted with imagination, seeking information and adjusting their services to accompany home births.…”

Atuação de enfermagem diante da Pandemia da COVID-19 a nível hospitalar / Nursing care in the face of the COVID-19 Pandemic at the hospital level

“…O atendimento conforme as guias e diretrizes é de responsabilidade dos profissionais de saúde, incluindo exclusão das fontes de transmissão, controle de fontes de infecção, desinfecção do ambiente, gerenciar o fornecimento do paciente e da equipe médica e a implementação de medidas de redução de infecção, além disso, o treinamento ativo dos profissionais garante que a equipe de enfermagem utilize dessas ferramentas de forma correta (YULI HU et al, 2020). As guias e diretrizes específicas de obstetrícia e enfermagem, devem ser seguidas no atendimento de gestantes com infecção ou de COVID-19, tendo como diferencial orientações para o pós-parto, com o objetivo de prevenir complicações e garantir a segurança e qualidade de vida da mulher e de seu filho (LIU et al, 2021).…”