Abstract

This case study examined a woman in the third trimester who was unwell with SARS-Cov-2. She noted reduced fetal movements and presented to hospital, where fetal monitoring was not reassuring and prompted emergency Caesarean section. Placental examination after delivery showed an abnormal placenta that was inflamed and had areas of fibrosis (scarring) which occupied a quarter of the placenta. This scarring was as a result of inflammation caused by the SARS-Cov-2 infection. This suggests that SARS-Cov-2 can infect the placenta and may potentially cause harm to the baby when the placenta becomes fibrosed (scarred), affecting the blood supply to the baby. This could result in reduced growth or even fetal death. This paper also discusses the other case reports of SARS-Cov-2 placental infections at the time (early in the pandemic). Based on this case and the supporting evidence, we suggest that the inflammation we found, “chronic histiocytic intervillositis”, may be specific to SARS-Cov-2 and that pregnant women with COVID-19 should receive extra monitoring of their baby after infection, particularly if they have reduced movements.