600+ pregnant women in Mumbai hit by new wave of Covid-19

Gynaecologists have been encouraging pregnant women to get vaccinated, as chances of contracting the infection is higher. File pic

Nearly 600 pregnant women in Mumbai have been affected by Covid in the third wave, data from the BMC has revealed. Of these, 250 were treated at BYL Nair Hospital alone, followed by Cama and Albless Maternity Hospital, where 161 received treatment. While the number of pregnant women infected in this wave was on the higher side, doctors said that most of them had mild symptoms. The recovery rate was also faster, when compared to the first two waves.

Dr Amol Pawar, associate professor, gynaecology and obstetrics department, and nodal officer, Covid-19 at Wadia Maternity Hospital, said they witnessed a sudden spurt in cases in December 2021. "Till October, we had six pregnant women admitted with us for Covid-19. In November, we had four patients. By December, the numbers went up to 20 and in January till date, we have had 59 patients. We are only admitting pregnant women, who are in their eighth or ninth month," he said. Dr Arun Nayak, head of the gynaecology department, Sion Hospital said, "We discharged most of them within four to five days. Compared to the first two waves, this wave was uneventful. It may be because of the milder strain or because of the vaccination. We have been encouraging pregnant women to get vaccinated."

Gynaecologists have, however, said that pregnant women should take utmost care in this wave, as chances of contracting the infection are higher. According to Dr Ramesh Bharmal, dean, Nair Hospital, pregnant women fall under the "high-risk" category. "During pregnancy, the immunity dips and therefore, they are prone to infection. It is therefore, important to be more careful," he said. Another doctor from the gynaecology department of Nair Hospital noted that this time the infections did not involve the lower respiratory tract, leading to early recovery. "None of them have required oxygen support. There is no lung involvement. In the last wave, around 40 per cent of our patients were on oxygen support," the doctor said.

Dr Pawar agreed. "The infection was limited to [the] upper respiratory tract along with headache and fever. Unlike the second wave where the patient became critical after the seventh day and had a dipping oxygen saturation level, in this wave we didn't see anything."