‘Some painkillers taken by women exposed to vector-borne diseases in floods, can lead to birth defects and miscarriage’.
New Delhi
Aasha, 23, is seven months pregnant and finds herself amid Delhi flood-like situation triggered by incessant rains. She was sitting on the mat bed, eating the Puri-Sabji provided by NDRF, under the open bridge at Mayur Vihar, which is now her new home. She is going through distress like body pain and stomach aches, and has to also put up with mosquito bites. There are only two or three washrooms for hundreds of people, so she has to go for open defecation. And even after all this, she has neither a home nor family on her side to look after her.
This is not only the situation of Aasha; thousands of women experience similar experience every year. The Sunday Guardian spoke to Dr Snigdha, a specialist at Apollo Noida, to better understand pregnancy difficulties in these areas.
“There are many medicines that are contraindicated, which means they should not be taken during pregnancy. In situations like floods, where women are exposed to so many vector-borne diseases, they can take painkillers, and many painkillers are also contraindicated, which can lead to congenital anomalies (birth defects) and miscarriages,” said Dr Snigdha, a consultant at Apollo Noida.
Routine check-ups
The routine check-up of the patent gets disturbed in such situations because they have to leave their places, and most of the time, camps lack these amenities. Also, in a situation like this, there are high chances that their records get lost, so when they visit a new doctor for treatment, there is a chance that doctor won’t be able to comprehend their actual issue. Previous records are necessary for a better examination. A frequent check-up is also crucial during pregnancy since certain conditions, such as gestational diabetes and hypertension (a condition where BP fluctuates), only occur during that time. If these conditions are not effectively managed, they might result in a caesarean birth, pregnancy difficulties, and a low-weight baby.
Diet
If a proper diet is not taken, then there is a chance that the mother will suffer from anaemia, which can cause premature delivery. Miscarriage chances also increase. Most young mothers are malnourished and anaemic. An anaemic woman giving birth increases the chances of Postpartum haemorrhage (PPH), which can lead to something critical.
SupplEments
Iron and calcium supplements are essential during pregnancy since even a healthy diet falls short of meeting all of the body’s needs. When the mother does not receive such a supplement in a scenario like this, there is a significant risk that the patient will develop anaemia, calcium insufficiency will be present, and even the baby’s growth will be impacted. Foetal growth retardation can get started.
Other issues
In these places, vector-borne disease is highly common, and because mothers and children are exposed to these conditions, it may have an adverse effect on their health. Additionally, the likelihood of miscarriage rises. Additionally, depression and hormonal effects rise. The rate of infection rises in such circumstances. Open urination and faeces can increase vaginal infections and result in new-borns that are underweight.