Pregnancy during the time of COVID-19 presents a new challenge for expectant mothers and healthcare professionals. With shifting guidelines, new policies and a lot of uncertainty around the effects of COVID-19 on pregnancy, here are a few things to consider.
You’ve just found out that you’re pregnant. The next steps
As with most things the best place to start is to plan and get good quality information.
Once your pregnancy is confirmed get in touch with your doctor. As your first point of contact they will be able to provide you with some guidance on issues such as:
- Prenatal appointments (ie. face-to-face or via telemedicine).
- Where labor and delivery will be taking place and how many support people will be allowed to accompany you.
- If/when to get tested for COVID-19.
- New policies that their practice is adopting for pregnant women.
How COVID-19 affects pregnancy
Researchers are still learning a lot about COVID-19 and its effects on pregnant women. There are still many unknowns about how it impacts pregnancy and what that means for the baby.
Additionally, what we know today may change over the course of your pregnancy. Therefore, it’s possible that new guidelines may be adopted in the weeks and months to come to keep both you and your baby safe.
At the moment, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) note that: “Based on what we know at this time, pregnant people might be at an increased risk for severe illness from COVID-19 compared to non-pregnant people.”
For women this means extra precautions should be taken to prevent infection with COVID-19 while pregnant. Be mindful about reducing your risk of getting sick.
How COVID-19 may affect the baby
This is another area that researchers still lack much information. According to the CDC, some pregnant women with COVID-19 have experienced preterm births, but it is not clear whether the preterm births were because of COVID-19 or due to another factor.
After birth, if a baby is exposed to COVID-19 they can get infected. Healthcare staff will take all steps necessary to ensure that mother and baby are always in a safe and sanitary environment to help prevent the spread of the virus.
Transmission of COVID-19 to the baby
Around the world there have been a small number of reported cases of COVID-19 passing from mother to fetus during pregnancy. So far this seems to be rare.
For the moment, it’s best for pregnant women to take all the necessary steps to avoid infection with COVID-19.
Steps pregnant women can take to help avoid COVID-19 infection
Contact your doctor or midwife to see if they have specific advice on things you can do while pregnant to help stop infection with COVID-19. The general rules are:
- Limit contact with other people as much as possible.
- Stay at least 6 feet away from others if you need to be in crowded areas.
- Attend all prenatal appointments.
- Wash hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.
- Stock up on essentials as much as possible to limit the number of trips to crowded places.
What will be different about Labor & Delivery
Many hospitals and birth centers have updated their policy on labor and delivery wards to help keep staff and patients as safe as possible. Depending on the hospital or birth center chosen, policies will differ from place to place. Issues such as visitors, support partners and pre-pregnancy tours are examples of new changes that may have been implemented. The best place to find out information about your specific location is to ask your doctor or contact the center directly.
Getting tested for COVID-19
Testing for COVID-19 varies significantly from state to state and county to county. For women having difficulty obtaining access to COVID-19 testing we recommend speaking to your doctor or healthcare provider directly.
If you are pregnant and think you have COVID-19, contact your primary care provider immediately for the most up to date advice.
Things to do to have a safe pregnancy
We encourage all women to stick to the basics of a safe and healthy pregnancy:
- Eating well
- Exercise regularly
- Staying connected to family and friends
- Attending all prenatal visits
It’s understandable to feel a bit anxious and uncertain about the next few months. However, know that all of your healthcare providers, doctors, nurses and midwives will do their very best to make sure that your pregnancy is as smooth and safe as possible.
Things will be a little different this time. But with a little flexibility and patience, we still hope to make your pregnancy as stress-free and as joyous as possible.
References
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/need-extra-precautions/pregnancy-breastfeeding.html