Introduction
On January 12th, 2020 Chinese Authorities shared the
genetic sequence of a novel type of virus belonging to the Coronaviridae
family, given the name severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2
(SARS-CoV-2).1 By international consensus, its related
disease has been called coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). The World
Health Organization (WHO) declared COVID-19 a pandemic on
11th March due to the prevalence, spread, and severity
of the disease.2 To date, a higher predisposition to
infection of pregnant women compared to the general population has not
been proven; however, evidence suggests they have a greater
susceptibility to develop pneumonia.3 Moreover, the
clinical course seems more severe among them. Higher rates of preterm
births and cesarean deliveries have also been detected; the latter being
associated with an elevated risk of clinical
impairment.4 Protocols for isolation and social
distancing in pregnant women are the same as those for the general
population.5 There is no strong evidence supporting
the existence of vertical transmission.6-8 Some case
reports suggest the possible transplacental transmission of
SARS-CoV-2.9 Nevertheless, although vertical
transmission has been described, it is very uncommon. Certain practices
during vaginal and cesarean deliveries have been modified during the
pandemic. Some centers have suppressed or substantially minimized
delayed cord clamping (DCC), mother/infant skin-to-skin contact, and
breastfeeding.8,10 However, WHO11and diverse Scientific Societies (Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention, CDC;12 The American College of
Obstetricians and Gynecologists, ACOG,13 National
Institute for Health and Care Excellence, NICE;14Spanish Society of Obstetrics and Gynecology, SEGO;5or The Spanish Neonatology Society, SENEO;5 among
others) recommend these practices in COVID-19 positive mothers because
the benefits outweigh the risks and the likelihood of neonatal infection
is actually very low. The objective of the present study was to
demonstrate that DCC is safe in mothers with confirmed SARS-CoV-2
infection.