Dr Belina Mokone answers questions about pregnancy during the 21-day-lockdown
Good daily hygiene should be practised throughout pregnancy under normal conditions, with the Covid-19 pandemic, even more so now.
Dr Belina Mokone, general practitioner and gynaecologist, answered questions about pregnancy and labour during the 21-day-lockdown.
1) If a pregnant women gets Covid-19 will it affect the baby in the womb?
No, if the pregnant women gets Covid-19 it does not affect the baby in the womb unless there is complications with the infected women.
2) What additional safety precautions should pregnant women take during the Covid-19 outbreak and lockdown?
Good daily hygiene should be practised throughout pregnancy under normal conditions, with the Covid-19 pandemic, even more so now.
In addition, pregnant women should not leave the house and rather send a relative to buy essentials if necessary during the lockdown.
3) What additional safety precautions is the hospitals taking to ensure patient’s safety?
Mediclinic Ermelo reduced visiting hours as well as visitors.
The visiting hours are from 3pm-4pm and 7pm-8pm.
Only one person will be allowed to see a patient per hour.
4)How many relatives of the delivering patient is allowed in the hospital during the delivery?
Dr Mokone said: “Usually two people were allowed, but now during the lockdown, only one person, usually the spouse, is allowed.
5) Who are allowed to accompany pregnant women during the lockdown?
Either the father of the child or the mother of the pregnant women is allowed to accompany her.
6) Are they bound by certain visiting hours?
Yes, at Mediclinic Ermelo the visiting hours are from 3pm-4pm and 7pm-8pm.
7)Do you see any increase in pregnant women opting for home birth due to the lockdown?
Dr Mokone, said: “None of my patients.
“Homebirth is no longer practised, there is a lot of things that can go wrong and due to that, whoever does opt for home birth may be accused of homicide should things go south.”
8) Will you be working during the lockdown?
Yes, I will be working from 8am until 5pm however, I will only be seeing patients in case of emergencies.
Chronic patients will also be seen, but by appointment only.
