Introduction
On January 12th, 2020 Chinese Authorities shared the genetic sequence of a novel type of virus belonging to the Coronaviridae family, given the name severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2).1 By international consensus, its related disease has been called coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). The World Health Organization (WHO) declared COVID-19 a pandemic on 11th March due to the prevalence, spread, and severity of the disease.2 To date, a higher predisposition to infection of pregnant women compared to the general population has not been proven; however, evidence suggests they have a greater susceptibility to develop pneumonia.3 Moreover, the clinical course seems more severe among them. Higher rates of preterm births and cesarean deliveries have also been detected; the latter being associated with an elevated risk of clinical impairment.4 Protocols for isolation and social distancing in pregnant women are the same as those for the general population.5 There is no strong evidence supporting the existence of vertical transmission.6-8 Some case reports suggest the possible transplacental transmission of SARS-CoV-2.9 Nevertheless, although vertical transmission has been described, it is very uncommon. Certain practices during vaginal and cesarean deliveries have been modified during the pandemic. Some centers have suppressed or substantially minimized delayed cord clamping (DCC), mother/infant skin-to-skin contact, and breastfeeding.8,10 However, WHO11and diverse Scientific Societies (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, CDC;12 The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, ACOG,13 National Institute for Health and Care Excellence, NICE;14Spanish Society of Obstetrics and Gynecology, SEGO;5or The Spanish Neonatology Society, SENEO;5 among others) recommend these practices in COVID-19 positive mothers because the benefits outweigh the risks and the likelihood of neonatal infection is actually very low. The objective of the present study was to demonstrate that DCC is safe in mothers with confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection.