coronavirus from a mother to baby before, during and after childbirth is quite possible, but such cases are rare, recent studies have shown.
However, transmissions are more likely to occur when the women have severe COVID-19 or were diagnosed after childbirth, the researchers pointed out adding that “less than 2% of babies born to mothers with SARS-CoV-2 infection also test positive for the virus".
They also said vaccination during pregnancy should be further encouraged to prevent infection and severe disease in mothers The team led by researchers at the University of Birmingham in the UK also found that vaginal births and breast feeding do not increase the likelihood of babies testing positive for SARS-CoV-2 when their mothers have the infection.
The study examined data from around the globe relating to more than 14,000 babies born to mothers with COVID-19. Overall, 1.8% of the 14,271 babies born to mothers with SARS-CoV-2 infection tested positive for the virus using PCR tests, the researchers said. "Ours is the first study to use the World Health Organization's stringent methods to show that it is possible for the virus to be spread from the mother to baby while in the womb, during childbirth, and after delivery," said study lead Shakila Thangaratinam, a professor at the University of Birmingham. “However, parents and healthcare professionals can be reassured that only a very small proportion of babies born to mothers with SARS-CoV-2 test positive.