As concerns grow about the dangers of coronavirus changes for pregnant women and adolescents, the Hadassah Medical Center in Jerusalem said Sunday that a 32-year-old woman in her third trimester had died from COVID-19 and her baby did not survive an emergency birth.
Osnat Ben Sheetrit, a mother of four small children, suffered from COVID-related complications despite not suffering from underlying diseases.
“Unfortunately, the mother and fetus were in a critical condition, and despite the mother being linked to ECMO [heart and lung bypass] machine, and despite great efforts to save the fetus’ life in the preemie intensive care unit, they died, ”Hadassah said.
A close relative of Osnat posted her photo on Instagram and wrote: “A mother with four princes went through a pregnancy with a child she did not survive. Our hearts are broken, we are not what to do with ourselves. there is no solace. “
Last week Israel saw the first recorded case of a fetus dying after being infected with a coronavirus. The mother, who went through a stillbirth at Assuta Hospital in Ashdod, was taking a positive test for coronavirus after she failed to report the symptoms she suffered.
The hospital said that if the woman had been vaccinated, it is very likely that she would not have contracted the virus.
According to the Ministry of Health, 50 pregnant women are currently in the hospital due to coronavirus complications.
According to data released by the ministry on Sunday, 10 of the women are in critical condition and eight are in critical condition – seven on air conditioners and one connected to an ECMO machine.
Prof. Galia Rahav, head of the Infectious Diseases and Laboratories Unit at Sheba Medical Center near Tel Aviv, said all women were in the final stages of pregnancy and had not been vaccinated.
Most, she said, were from the Haredi region and had other children at home.
“I believe their serious illness stems from the British coronavirus strain,” she said.
“Treating coronavirus patients during pregnancy is not like regular treatments which is why we definitely recommend vaccination, especially in the third trimester of pregnancy,” Rahav said.
Dr. Ortal Ne’eman, director of the Maternal and Fetal Medicine Unit at Ashdod Assuta Public Hospital also urged pregnant women to get vaccinated.
“In the last few weeks, we have seen an increase in coronavirus infections in pregnant women. The difficulty of getting the vaccine is easy to understand, but it is not reasonable, ”said Ne’eman.
“To date, no woman has been diagnosed with coronavirus in Israel after receiving a second injection. I urge you, get vaccinated to keep you and your fetus safe. There is no excuse to ‘means the possibility of unnecessary disease. “
The Ministry of Health said Sunday that 48 children under the age of 18 are currently hospitalized with coronavirus, including six in critical condition.
While this marks an increase of eight children in two days it is lower than the February high of 50 children.