A pregnant Latina who tested positive for COVID-19 delivers a baby while in a coma, according to a recently published article.


Impact of COVID-19 for Parents and Babies

Many questions remain unanswered about the impacts of COVID-19 on pregnant women and their babies. Though it was established already that pregnant women are at high risk of getting the virus, it is still not clear if the baby too can catch the virus.  

The World Health Organization made it clear that there is no sufficient data that would support the claim that COVID-19 can impact both the parent and the baby. However, this lack of knowledge poised a medical care insight in a recent case in New Jersey.


A Latina Was Diagnosed Positive for COVID-19 While Pregnant Last Month

Johana Mendoza Chancay did not worry a lot after she found out that she is positive for the virus. In an interview with her by a news outlet, she said that she took care of herself, took time to rest well, and quarantined but days after she found herself having difficulties in breathing.

She was rushed to the Hoboken University Medical Center on March 30, and upon arrival, she was told that she would need a C-section. 

She said: "The doctor told me pretty quickly that the baby was in jeopardy. They said I would have to get an emergency C-section. I was freaking out. That's pretty much the last thing I remember."


Chancay Delivered the Baby While in a Coma Through C-Section

The baby was born 14 weeks before its expected due date. Chancay awakened from the coma on April 13, but she will not yet be reunited with her son named Zion because she is still not clear about the virus.

The only way for her right now to see her son is through a webcam, and holding the baby in her arms is still not possible. 

She said that when she saw her baby on the screen, she cried. She also added: "It feels like everything just happened so quickly, but then I realized - 'Wow, I was there for a long time.'"

The baby remained under a neonatal intensive care unit in the hospital while Chancay is now in recovery at her sister's home. She is currently undergoing therapy in Connecticut, where she lives to have her strength back.

The wound that she got from C-Section is still not healing, and she has some lung damage caused by the virus. It was also found out that Chancay cannot talk nor move too fast without coughing.

For her, the safety of her son is her top priority at this time. Though the baby remained virus-free, Zion needs to be isolated in the hospital because he was just around five months and two weeks when he was delivered, and the baby needs intensive care from the hospital.

The baby was just around one pound when he was delivered, and Chancay said that she feels very blessed and grateful. 


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