Health services must allow the presence of companions of pregnant women in consultations, emergencies and hospitalization, according to a standard of the DGS, which exempts those who have complete vaccination from taking the Covid-19 test to attend the birth.
"If the pregnant woman so wishes, the presence of a companion in prenatal surveillance (consultations and ultrasounds), care in the Emergency Department, hospitalization and follow-up during childbirth must be guaranteed", refers to the norm "Covid-19: Pregnancy and Parto”, updated today by the General Directorate of Health (DGS).
According to the DGS, hospital units must ensure the necessary conditions to ensure the presence of a companion during labor, and this must carry out a clinical and epidemiological questionnaire.
If the companion has the complete vaccination schedule for more than 14 days, they are exempt from carrying out screening tests for SARS-CoV-2.
The standard establishes that it must be only a companion, with no possibility of exchange, who must comply with the rules of hand hygiene, respiratory etiquette, physical distance, use of a surgical mask, and other rules of the hospital unit and guidelines of health professionals.
“When the presence of companions cannot be safely guaranteed, exceptional measures to restrict companions may be considered, provided they are proportionate and based on the risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection. These situations must be properly explained to companions», stresses the standard.
In the case of pregnant women with covid-19, restricting the presence of a companion can be considered, whenever the existing conditions do not ensure a reduction in the spread of infection by SARS-CoV-2 to people who may be involved in the care of the newborn. -born in the family
The General Directorate of Health also updated today the norm “Covid-19: Care of the Newborn in Maternity” regarding the “criteria for the end of isolation”.
According to the document, the end of isolation of mothers and newborns with SARS-CoV-2 infection must comply with Standard 004/2020 of the DGS, which recommends that the minimum time recommended for isolation, which is 10 days in people asymptomatic; 10 days in people who develop mild or moderate illness and 20 days in people who develop severe illness.
In pregnant women recovered from covid-19 infection, subsequent surveillance of pregnancy should be carried out in a hospital setting, says the DGS in the norm on pregnancy and childbirth
"About 3-4 weeks after the end of isolation, an obstetric ultrasound should be performed, with assessment of fetal growth, detailed anatomical assessment, flowmetry and, if relevant maternal hypoxemia occurred during the infection, fetal neurosonography up to 32 weeks." refers to DGS.
Regarding the newborn, the standard establishes that if they have a negative molecular test for SARS-CoV-2, they can be discharged home, according to the institution's protocol, safeguarding the safety conditions for their surveillance and continuity of care.
"In preparing the discharge of the newborn with covid-19 to the home, an adequate transition of care must be ensured between the Hospital Unit team and the Primary Health Care team, with the supervision of the Neonatology team", says the DGS .
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