Setting up a specialized maternity unit in a tertiary hospital: An oasis for pregnant women with COVID-19 during the pandemic

Abstract

Objective: The COVID-19 pandemic has had an enormous impact on society and the medical environment in Taiwan in 2022. As pregnant women with COVID-19 are at higher risk for multiple complications, Taiwan needs a COVID-19 specialized maternity unit to improve the quality of maternal and neonatal care.

Materials and methods: We share our experience with specialized maternity unit for pregnant women with COVID-19 at the National Cheng Kung University Hospital, where we can have careful evaluation, safe birth, and comprehensive postpartum care.

Results: Our COVID-19 specialized maternity unit enrolled 253 pregnant women with COVID-19, 90 (35.6%) pregnant women were admitted to the specialized maternity unit, and 71 (28.1%) pregnant women gave birth during hospitalization in two months. All pregnant women recovery well and real-time polymerase chain reaction tests on all infants were negative for COVID-19.

Conclusion: A specialized maternity unit can provide pregnant women with a safe birth environment, immediate maternity care, and high medical quality. It can also help health workers in non-specialized maternity units deal with COVID-19-related psychological stress. Therefore, setting up one specialized maternity unit in the city during the pandemic should be guardedly considered.

Keywords: COVID-19; Hospitals; Maternal-child health services; Maternity; Pandemics.