How to Treat Ebola During Pregnancy

A pregnant woman in Africa who has contracted Ebola is likely to suffer with a spontaneous abortion, pregnancy-related hemorrhage, or the death of her newborn. Although the risk of caring for a pregnant woman with Ebola in the United States may be rare, the Association of Women's Health, Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses (AWHONN) has published a practice brief in its Journal of Obstetric, Gynecologic, & Neonatal Nursing to guide nursing care for pregnant women and newborns.

"Nurses play a vital role in caring for patients with Ebola," says Dr. Debra Bingham, who is vice president at AWHONN. "AWHONN's practice brief will help nurses identify women with symptoms of infectious diseases in order to minimize the risk of spreading Ebola infections among women and newborns."