Gynecology department of Gotri Hospital offers unique treatment for covid-free and covid-positive pregnant women

Conduct a total of 214 covid positive pregnancies including 71 safe deliveries from March 2020 to May 2021

The parameters of medical treatment have changed after Covid. Previously, the diagnosis, registration, prenatal treatment and delivery of pregnant women in the gynecology department of a government hospital were all possible in a single ward.
But after the epidemic, different categories of treatment have become important for covid positive and non-covid pregnant women.

Even in the beginning of Covid, the problem of where to get treatment and delivery of pregnant women who have contracted the virus put the families in tension. No hospital was willing to admit such women and they did not have the necessary arrangements. At that time, the condition of the families of normal economic condition became dire.

In the first wave of Covid, not a single advanced private hospital had the facility to treat positive pregnant women or deliveries. One or two private hospitals have started this facility in the current second wave. But the complete free facility is only available in government hospitals like Gotri and Sayaji.

GMERS, Gotri Hospital is equipped with a separate ward and operating room for prenatal treatment and safe delivery of pregnant women with covid infection. It is also equipped with all types of monitoring of mother and foetus.

Along with this, the treatment and maternity ward required before delivery of normal pregnant women is operational. Thus, covid challenged the gynecology department to fight on two fronts, which this government health center successfully overcame and even today in this hospital, normal and separate maternity treatment and maternity facilities for covid positive and covid free, are available.

Dr. Ashish Shah, Head of Gynecology Department said, since the start of Covid in March 2020, as a precautionary measure they have started a separate ward and surgery facility for Covid positive pregnant women. They are ready for this fight no matter how long it lasts.

Their idea of ​​a separate system was approved and supported by Dr. Vinod Rao, Officer on Special Duty, Medical Superintendent of the Hospital, Nodal Officer. He is happy that their facility is helping the poor and middle class families from a big dilemma.

Expressing happiness he said that they were able to do safe deliveries of 71 pregnant women at their special facility from March 20 to May 21 (till May 11). A total of 126 covid positive pregnant women underwent necessary treatment under this facility from March to December 20, and out of those, 8 were normal and 33 were cesarean.

Similarly, between January to May 2021 (May 11th), they have treated 88 such pregnancies with 13 normal and 17 caesareans together gave a total of 30 covid positive deliveries.

Thus, in this period of about 13 months, a total of 71 Covid + pregnant women have been delivered in this special department and a total of 214 such women have been provided necessary treatment services. It is to be noted here that pregnant women who are positive at the time of delivery, even if they have normal symptoms, they have been by being admitted to this ward as part of precaution and safe delivery is done.

Recently a couple was overjoyed when safe delivery is performed by the doctors as the woman tested positive when the delivery was near. She was refused to admit by the hospital due to lack of necessary facilities and recommend to another hospital and assured that it would take reasonable charge.
However the hospital demanded a deposit of Rs 1.50 lakh at the time of admission and asked to be prepared for a total expenditure of Rs 3 lakh, including a cesarean. The family could not afford it.

The tensed family was advised by a doctor friend to be admitted to this special department of Gotri Hospital. The woman was admitted and doctors performed a normal delivery instead of a cesarean and she gave birth to a healthy baby. All of this happened for free. The heartfelt family thanked the doctors here and the government hospital for their invaluable services.

Along with this special section, treatment and maternity facilities for Covid-free pregnant women are running as per the routine.

It is also worth mentioning that Gyanec resident physicians provide medical services in general covid departments in addition to covid and non-covid gyanec departments. The dedication of nursing as well as all types of support staff have contributed immensely to the success of this system.

Dr. Ashish said that people don't assume that only pregnant women with covid infection are treated and delivered at Gotri Hospital. There is a different facility available for non-covid pregnant women and people take advantage of it.

A special facility has been set up in separate wards for Covid positive pregnant women at GMERS, Gotri Hospital. However, the prenatal check-up, necessary treatment and delivery facilities in the gynecology and obstetrics department for covid free normal pregnant women are the same as before, so there is no need to misunderstand that there is no facility for non-covid pregnant women during the corona era.

Informing that a total of 1603 deliveries have been performed in the permanent gynecology and obstetrics department here from March 2020 to May 2021 (May 11th), the head of the department Dr. Ashish Shah said that during the above period a total of 7284 pregnant women went through maternity check-up, treatment of any pregnancy or woman with innate physical ailments, services like vaccination have been availed in their department. During this time 1603 deliveries have been done out of which 1014 are natural and 589 are caesarean section.

Physicians and staff treating covid positive patients have to wear a PPE kit to keep themselves infection-free which is uncomfortable in hot environments. However for the mutual safety of herself and the patient during caesarean section, the doctor has to be careful to wear a doctor's gown on top of the PPE kit and gloves on the other hand.

Dr. Ashish said, they try their best to have a natural delivery when there is an insistence on caesarean section. But they resort to caesarean section only when it is unavoidable. Their Covid Positive Maternity Labor Room has all the equipment for monitoring mother and foetus.