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Get vaccinated, request to “all” expectant mothers
Dr. Chithramalee de Silva
Get vaccinated against COVID-19 whatever stage of pregnancy you are in, urged a top health official yesterday.
“We are now vaccinating all those who are pregnant, whatever trimester they are in,” said the Health Ministry’s Director of Maternal and Child Health, Dr. Chithramalee de Silva.
The first three months of a pregnancy are known as the 1st trimester, the second three months as the 2nd trimester and the final three months as the 3rd trimester.
Earlier, the ministry recommended vaccination only for those in the 2nd and 3rd trimesters of pregnancy.
Currently, close to 900 expectant and post-partum (those soon after childbirth) have been infected by COVID-19 with 30 deaths, all in this wave after April this year.
“Adhere to all health precautions and don’t leave your home,” says Dr. de Silva to all those expectant mothers, cautioning other family members against bringing home the virus.
She advises these mothers to promptly get in touch with the COVID-19 hotlines; their area midwives and Medical Officers of Health (MOHs); or go to hospital if they feel they are ill.
The hotlines include: the Health Ministry’s trilingual 1999; the Presidential Task Force’s 117; and the Sri Lanka Medical Association’s 247.
The danger signs expectant mothers (ante-natal) need to look out for are: high blood pressure; severe headache; difficulty in breathing; fits; losing consciousness (fainting) or feeling dizzy; fever; blurred vision (eyes); pain/burning sensation in the chest or abdomen; reduction in the movements of the baby (reduced foetal movement); body swelling; eyes becoming yellow; severe itching all over the body; and any other major discomfort.
The danger signs mothers who have just had their babies (post-natal) need to look out for are: fever; high blood pressure; difficulty in breathing or panting; severe headache; losing consciousness (fainting) or feeling dizzy; pain/burning sensation in the chest or abdomen; blurred vision (eyes); fits; a major feeling of discomfort/a change in the mental status; if muscle pain increases when walking; a vaginal discharge which has an odour; major pain in the vaginal area; body swelling; and any other major discomfort.