Abstract
The coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19), that was later declared pandemic by World Health Organization, had led to panic and fear worldwide. Like many outbreaks caused by viruses, in cheif reason for fear was the infectious agent's potential to be transmitted from pregnant women to their fetuses and newborns. In our study, the hospital records of 117 pregnant women who delivered stillbirths in our clinic between 01.01.2015 and 31.12.2020 were examined. The pregnancy characteristics and perinatal outcomes were examined by making retrospective analysis of the records. Considering six year of the study data, it was observed that the stillbirth rates increased in the pandemic period. One hundred seventeen stillbirth cases that occurred in the last six years were analyzed. The mean age of the pregnant women was 29.64+6 (18-44) and parity was 2.54+1.58 (1-8). Body mass index was calculated as 21.36+3.40 (16-27) average and smoking consumption rate was 9.40% (11/117). Maternal diabetes was detected in 8.54% of the patients (10/117) and pregnancies were complicated by maternal hypertension in 5.12% of the patients (6/117). The average birth weight was 1597+1038 (500-4700) gram. Sixty percent of the deliveries (n=71) were performed by vaginally. Fetal sex was 52.1% male (n=61). The number of deliveries in the past six years was 11780. Almost 1% of the deliveries occurred as stillbirths (117/11780). The unusual stillbirth ratio during the pandemic was 3.1 times higher than the average of pre-pandemic period (2.5vs0.80). In our study, we investigated stillbirth rates before and during the pandemic. Although vertical transmission of Covid-19 has not been reported, the adverse pregnancy and neonatal outcomes have been provided in many studies. Undoubtedly, in obstetrical practice stillbirth is one of the most destructive consequences for pregnant women. Considering the increase in stillbirth rates, we think that pregnant women with adverse perinatal outcomes should be routinely tested for Covid-19, especially during the outbreak.
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