Singapore mother reportedly gave birth to baby with COVID-19 antibodies

A Singaporean mother who battled COVID-19 during her pregnancy has given birth to a baby with antibodies to the virus, according to a report.

Celine Ng-Chang, 31, gave birth this month to the baby boy, who tested negative for the virus but had the antibodies, the Straits Times reported.

“My doctor suspects that I transferred my COVID-19 antibodies to her during my pregnancy,” she told the newspaper.

While 10 weeks pregnant in March, Ng-Chang fell ill with a mild case of the virus and was hospitalized for more than two weeks, the outlet reported.

“My pregnancy and birth went smoothly despite being diagnosed with Covid-19 during my first trimester, which is the most unstable phase of pregnancy,” she said.

She said she was delighted to deliver a “very healthy” boy named Aldrin on November 7 at National University Hospital.

“It’s very interesting. Her pediatrician said my COVID-19 antibodies are gone, but Aldrin has COVID-19 antibodies,” she said.

Experts said the antibodies suggested someone had developed an immune response to the virus, but it is not known what protection they provide against infection.

It is also not known whether a pregnant woman with COVID-19 can pass the virus or antibodies to her newborn baby.

Researchers from the UK have found cases of COVID-19 in newborns to be rare – with just 66 newborns testing positive out of 10,000 births in hospitals from March 1 to April 30.

The World Health Organization, however, said there was not yet enough evidence to prove that a pregnant woman can pass the virus to her baby during pregnancy or childbirth.

So far, the virus has not been found in samples of fluid surrounding the baby in the womb or in breast milk, experts said.

With pole wires