It will soon be three years since the spread of the new corona virus.
At the site of childbirth, where new life is born, there is a continuing situation where opportunities to interact with newborn babies, as well as sharing with family members, are restricted to prevent infection.
In particular, if a pregnant woman is infected, there are cases where mothers who have to go to childbirth alone become more anxious about childbirth and subsequent childcare.
An attempt to support mothers who tend to be isolated and bring them closer to the birth before the corona disaster has started in Osaka.
(Osaka Broadcasting Station Reporter Hikari Kitamori)
"Mother and child rooming together" while taking measures against infection
The Osaka Maternal and Child Medical Center in Izumi City, Osaka, has accepted pregnant women infected with the new corona as a base for perinatal medical care in the prefecture.
In order to support mothers who tend to become isolated, the center started the "Mother and Child Room".
Mother-infant room sharing allows a newborn baby to spend time in the same room as their mother, so that they can gradually get used to childcare and make it easier for them to produce breast milk. It has been implemented in many medical institutions.
In a questionnaire survey compiled by the Japanese Society of Perinatal and Neonatal Medicine in 2019 before the corona crisis, 90% of the responding medical institutions answered that they were ``having mothers and children in the same room.''
However, the situation changed completely due to the spread of the new corona infection.
Initially, the Japan Society of Obstetrics and Gynecology and others indicated that if the mother was infected, contact between mother and child during the isolation period was prohibited.
Since then, there have been a series of reports from overseas that the risk of infecting babies due to mother-child sharing and breastfeeding is low. It shows you what you can do.
Even in Japan, there is a movement to review the measures taken so far.
In December last year, the Japanese Society of Neonatal Medicine, which is made up of doctors involved in neonatal medicine, said, ``As knowledge increases worldwide, there is an increasing number of recommendations for mothers and babies to share a room after confirming their parents' intentions. If we explain the risks and benefits (benefits) and follow the wishes of the mother and family, we can choose to share a mother-child room according to the judgment and policy of each facility."
In response to these movements, the Osaka Maternal and Child Medical Center began supporting infected mothers and newborn babies in the same room from February this year.
The conditions for implementation were examined after repeated consultations with the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology and the Department of Infectious Diseases, referring to the guidelines of the academic society.
The condition of the center is that the mother is asymptomatic or extremely mild.
In addition, we created a checklist of 17 items, including ``the mother has no obstetric problems that make childcare difficult'', ``the baby's condition is stable'', and ``whether the ward staff can handle it''.
If the mother wishes to share a mother-child room, we will check the status of the ward with both the parent and the child, and then compare it with the checklist to see if it is possible.
In the room, it is basic to wear a mask except for eating, and wash hands and disinfect thoroughly when breastfeeding or hugging.
Also, when you are not caring for your baby, keep a distance of 2 meters.
The center currently allows mothers and children to stay in the same room for one night only, the day before discharge.
In the last 10 months, 10 of the 11 people who have been targeted have requested.
There have been no cases of babies being infected.
Masatoshi Nozaki, Deputy Director, Department of Neonatology and Infectious Diseases, Osaka Maternal and Child Medical Center
“We have always focused on childbirth and babies while valuing support for building relationships between mothers and children. I was frustrated by the fact that many mothers had no chance to get information about childcare.In the world, if measures are taken properly, it is almost impossible for mothers and children to share a room with their babies. Now that I understand it, I started thinking that I would like to create an environment where mothers and children can stay in the same room as much as possible while adjusting to the current state of infection control in Japan.”
An unexpected infection, a lonely birth
A woman in her 40s living in Osaka Prefecture.
She gave birth to her first son at the center this November.
While she was staying at her parents' house in Funai, her water broke and she was admitted to the center for her delivery.
There she was tested for COVID-19 and was found to be infected.
Her husband was supposed to be present for her part, but she didn't get what she wanted.
Woman
: “I felt guilty because I was infected with the corona virus and thought I might pass it on to my baby. I had to endure the night alone without my family around me. It was my first time giving birth. The night was very long and painful."
Time with baby For support afterward
The female gave birth to a healthy boy weighing approximately 3500 grams.
The next day, the staff suggested that mother and child share a room.
Although I was able to find out how the baby was born through "online visits," I thought it would be difficult to meet in person until the quarantine period was over.
The unexpected proposal from the hospital told the woman that she would like it immediately.
The day before discharge, the woman met her child directly and spent time in the same room.
Cuddling and breastfeeding.
If she had any questions or concerns about how to interact with her baby, she could contact her nurse for advice.
It is said that the precious time spent with her child has been a great support to her in dealing with childcare after she was discharged from the hospital.
Woman
: “When I actually met him and held him in my arms, he was very small. I'm with you, but you cry at night.' By telling me what happened until then, I thought it wasn't my fault that I was crying, so I suddenly went home and left alone. I think I would have blamed myself if I had to face it.The time I spent with my baby at the hospital, including what I was taught at that time, such as how to breastfeed and formula, was not a support for childcare. It is.”
This month, a woman visited the center for a one-month checkup.
Baby is gaining weight and growing well.
Mother and child sharing a room Domestic issues
Dr. Nozaki was involved in the creation of guidelines for the Japanese Society of Neonatal Medicine.
Considering the risk of infecting the baby, there are some places where mothers and children are not allowed to share the same room, but it is said that inquiries from other medical institutions are increasing about the center's efforts.
However, there are many challenges in promoting mother and child rooming in Japan.
In many cases, the staff in the wards that accept pregnant women and babies are not accustomed to dealing with the new coronavirus, and some hospitals have a separate ward for infected mothers and a ward for newborn babies. .
Masatoshi Nozaki, Deputy Director, Department of Neonatology and Infectious Diseases, Osaka Maternal and Child Medical Center
“There are various hurdles depending on the situation of the medical institution. On the other hand, some hospitals put even pregnant women in wards that see general corona patients instead of obstetrics.I think it would be difficult to provide care for pregnant women in such wards. In addition, it is very difficult to bring a newborn baby to such a ward, and I think the hurdles are high.In such a hospital, even if it is difficult for the mother and child to stay in the same room, for example, for short visits, I think it would be better to start from where we can do it little by little."
Dr. Nozaki wants to consider increasing the amount of time that mothers and children share a room in the future while building up their achievements in the hospital.
A new coronavirus that still has no prospect of convergence.
We are continuing to search for a place to support mothers who tend to be isolated and bring them closer to giving birth before the corona disaster.