The rare incident has garnered a lot of attention for the prompt response of medical staff at the scene.

The entrance of Dong Anh General hospital, Hanoi (Photo: Vietnamnet)

A woman in the 39th week of pregnancy went into labor as she declared her health status at the entrance of Dong Anh General hospital, Hanoi. On-site medical staff helped her deliver the baby safely, right at the hospital’s Covid-19 checking point.

The 21-year-old mother was reportedly in panic as doctors took her and the newborn to the obstetrics department for further care and procedures.

The infant was born healthily and weighed 2.9 kg. Both are now in stable conditions.

The pregnant woman (in pink) before the delivery (Photo: Afamily)

According to Dr. Hoang Thi Phuong, deputy head of the department, the mother was going to the hospital for her second pregnancy check-up when the incident occurred.

“She was kind of lucky she went into labor at the hospital and received immediate medical treatment,” Phuong told VNE.

As Covid-19 ravages the country, with many clusters linked to medical facilities, several expectant mothers only rush to hospitals on the due date instead of several days ahead. Phuong advises all pregnant women to get regular and careful prenatal examinations and monitoring. The high-risk group, including those with twins, must pay extra attention to signs of premature birth.

Earlier on June 9, doctors and nurses at the National Hospital for Tropical Diseases in Hanoi successfully delivered a baby whose mother was being treated for Covid-19 at the establishment.

The infant was born to a 20-year-old mother from Bac Giang province, the cluster with the largest infection counts in the country. The mother was reportedly admitted to the hospital for Covid-19 treatment on May 17 at 35 weeks pregnant.

After the delivery, she was transferred to the hepatitis department while the newborn has been in the care of two pediatric nurses in a separate area to avoid infection.

This is the fourth baby born to a coronavirus patient in Vietnam so far.

In May, a baby girl was born at a Lao Cai Province coronavirus quarantine zone. Her mother had been self-isolating at home after having close contact with suspected Covid-19 patients.

The 35-year-old woman underwent delivery via C-section at Lao Cai Province Obstetrics Hospital’s quarantine zone.

The baby girl weighed 3.3 kg and was screened for coronavirus immediately after the delivery. They reportedly stayed at the quarantine zone for the mandatory three weeks and further health monitoring.

Two doctors pose photos with the newly born baby. (Photo courtesy of Thach That District Hospital)

Unexpected impact of Covid-19 on pregnant women and babies

The sudden arrival of the Covid-19 pandemic has had an unexpected impact on pregnant women and babies worldwide.

According to WHO, expectant mothers with Covid-19 are more likely to be admitted to the intensive care unit or need respiratory support when compared with non-pregnant women of reproductive age. They are also more likely to give birth prematurely.

(Photo: Washington University School of Medicine)

At present, the extent to which mother-to-child transmission of SARS-CoV-2 occurs, either in utero, intrapartum, or in the early postnatal period, is unclear. WHO is working to increase the understanding of SARS-CoV-2 vertical transmission and the timing of such transmission.

Experts are suggesting healthcare providers give specialist care to Covid-19 mothers and their newborn babies.

“In addition, it is crucial to stress whether or not a woman has Covid-19, her right to a positive pregnancy and childbirth experience must be ensured,” the WHO wrote.

The fourth wave starting on April 27, considered the most dangerous outbreak in Vietnam yet, has started to abate. New infections in clusters and localities across the country are reportedly slowing down, though certain places may still expect scattered cases.

The National Steering Committee for Covid-19 Prevention and Control predicts Vietnam stands a high chance of suppressing the recent outbreak in June if all provinces and cities well manage the virus’s spread.

The novel coronavirus, which stemmed from Wuhan city, China’s Hubei province, has spread to 220 countries and territories. In Vietnam, it has affected 9,835 patients, claiming 55 lives. While the two northern provinces of Bac Giang and Bac Ninh are struggling with a growing daily tally, central Vietnam is the least affected of the three regions.

In the fourth wave alone, the nationwide tally has seen 6,637 cases and 19 deaths.

Jasmine Le