Delhi’s Lok Nayak Jai Prakash (LNJP) Hospital has delivered babies for 331 Covid-positive women since March. Out of the total deliveries, 182 were normal deliveries, while 149 involved a caesarean section. “We have designed a different labour room, prepared the neonatal care room, created separate emergency OTs, and posted round-theclock gynaecologists,” said Dr Suresh Kumar, Medical Director, LNJP.
After the deliveries, seven newborns tested positive for Covid-19, but all of them were discharged in 5-14 days, reported a senior doctor. “Most of them had minor symptoms like a low-grade fever and chest infection, and no serious symptoms have been reported yet,” he said.
Around 12 nurses and 4 doctors were also infected by Covid-19 during the deliveries. “In a normal scenario, doctors and medical staff are happy to operate and handle surgeries, but with Covid, it is difficult because we have to take care of our personal protection too. It can’t be handled like a normal delivery,” Dr Kumar explained.