Management of the newborn baby of a mother with suspected or confirmed Covid-19 positivity

Abstract

The Sars-CoV-2 pandemic has created concern and uncertainty about the management of the newborn and breastfeeding, particularly if the mother has suspected or known coronavirus positivity. In our neonatology department, a second-level center, separate pathways were defined for Covid-positive (or suspected) and Covid-free patients at the beginning of March 2020; isolation rooms were identified, and indications were given regarding the management of the newborn in the delivery room and within the Neonatal Pathology department, with the aim of preventing the spread of the SARS-Cov-2 infection and encouraging breastfeeding.Resuscitation of the newborn occurs according to the recommended guidelines, taking care to quickly clean the newborn of the mother's blood and fluids. At the end of the stabilization of the newborn, four scenarios can occur: Newborn who does not require intensive care, born of a mother in good condition and with a positive SARS-CoV-2 swab; follows the mother as she is transferred to the maternal ward of the Covid Hospital (superHub Padova).Newborn born to a suspected mother, who does not require intensive or semi-intensive assistance; can be managed by favoring rooming-in, compatibly with the mother's conditions.Newborn who needs intensive or semi-intensive care for neonatal reasons, born from a suspected or SARS-CoV2-positive mother; requires STEN - Neonatal Emergency Transport Service, according to the procedure and dedicated routes.Newborn born to a positive or suspected mother, who has severe symptoms of respiratory infection or general state impairment; will be separated from the mother and placed in semi-intensive isolation in a dedicated incubator in the neonatal ward.This paper provides a proposal for the management of the newborn born to a suspected or coronavirus-positive mother, and was formulated to avoid the spread of the infection and to implement neonatal care.Key messages A proposal for the management of the newborn born to a suspected or coronavirus-positive mother formulated to avoid the spread of the infection and to implement neonatal care in second-level centers.Operational indications for the management of the newborn baby of a mother with suspected or confirmed Covid-19 positivity and neonatal care in second-level centers.