As concerns over the dangers of coronavirus variants for pregnant women and young women grow, Hadassah Medical Center in Jerusalem said on Sunday that a 32-year-old woman in the third trimester died of COVID-19 and that her baby did not survive a delivery of emergency.
Osnat Ben Sheetrit, a mother of four young children, succumbed to complications related to COVID, despite not suffering from any underlying disease.
“Unfortunately, the mother and the fetus were in critical condition and although the mother is connected to an ECMO [heart and lung bypass] machine, and despite great efforts to save the life of the fetus in the intensive care unit of preterm infants, they died, ”said Hadassah.
A close relative of Osnat posted his photo on Instagram and wrote: “A mother of four pure princes has had a pregnancy that she did not survive. Our hearts are broken, we don’t do anything with us. There is no comfort.”
Last week, Israel saw its first recorded case of a fetus dying after being infected with the coronavirus. The mother, who had a dead delivery at Assuta Hospital in Ashdod, tested positive for coronavirus after failing to report the symptoms she experienced.
The hospital said that if the woman had been vaccinated, she probably would not have been infected with the virus.
According to the Ministry of Health, there are currently 50 pregnant women hospitalized for coronavirus complications.
According to data released by the ministry on Sunday, 10 of the women are in serious condition and eight are in critical condition – seven with fans and one connected to an ECMO machine.
Professor Galia Rahav, head of the Infectious Diseases Unit and Laboratories at Sheba Medical Center near Tel Aviv, said all women were in the late stages of pregnancy and had not been vaccinated.
Most, she said, were from the Haredi sector 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 and that is why we definitely recommend vaccination, especially in the third trimester of pregnancy,” said Rahav.
Dr. Ortal Ne’eman, director of the Maternity and Fetal Medicine Unit at Ashdod Public Hospital Assuta, also asked pregnant women to get vaccinated.
“In the past few weeks, we have seen an increase in coronavirus infections among pregnant women. The dilemma of being vaccinated is understandable, but it is not justified, ”said Ne’eman.
“So far, no woman has been diagnosed with coronavirus in Israel after receiving the second injection. I beg you, get vaccinated to keep you and your fetus safe. Any hesitation means a possibility of unnecessary infection.”
The Health Ministry said on Sunday that there are currently 48 children under the age of 18 hospitalized with coronavirus, including six in critical condition.
Although this marks an increase of eight children in two days, it is below the February record number of 50 children.