If you are currently or recently pregnant (within the past 42 days), or you are breast-feeding your baby, you may be concerned about the impact of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) on you and your baby. You may also have questions about the safety of COVID-19 vaccines. Here's what you need to know.
Risks during pregnancy
The risk of pregnant women contracting COVID-19 is generally low. However, pregnant women or those who have recently given birth are more likely to develop severe illness with COVID-19. Severe illness may require hospitalization, intensive care, or placement on a ventilator to assist with breathing. Pregnant women infected with COVID-19 are also more likely to give birth before the beginning of the 37th week of pregnancy (premature birth), and they may have an increased risk of problems such as pregnancy loss.
In addition, it appears that pregnant women of African or Latin American origin are more likely to be affected by Covid-19 infection. Pregnant women with underlying medical conditions, such as diabetes, may be at increased risk of severe illness from COVID-19.
Some studies indicate that pregnant women with COVID-19 are more likely to have premature birth and caesarean section, and are more likely to have their babies admitted to the neonatal unit.
Call your health care provider right away if you have symptoms of COVID-19 or if you've been in close contact with someone who has this virus. In this case, a COVID-19 test is recommended. Before going to your appointment, call your health care provider to tell them about your symptoms and the possibility that you may have been exposed to the virus.
If you're pregnant and develop COVID-19, your treatment approach will focus on relieving symptoms and may include rest and plenty of fluids, as well as medication to reduce fever, relieve pain or reduce coughing. If the disease is severe, the patient may need to stay in the hospital for treatment.
Impact on antenatal care
Talk to your health care provider about precautions to protect you during medical appointments or whether telecare might be an appropriate option for you before birth. Ask if there are any tools that would be useful to have at home, such as a blood pressure monitor. To get the most out of any remote consultations, prepare in advance a list of questions you want to ask and take detailed notes during the consultation. Also consider looking for online childbirth education courses.
If you had certain high-risk conditions during pregnancy, virtual consultations may not be an option. Ask your doctor about the impact of these conditions on the health care you receive.
Recommendations for labor and delivery
If you're in good health as you approach your due date, some aspects of labor and delivery may go as usual. But get ready to be flexible.
If the hospital schedules you to induce labor or have a C-section, doctors may conduct screening tests to detect COVID-19 for you and your accompanying person before you arrive at the hospital. Doctors may check you again before you enter the labor or delivery department. If you have symptoms or are infected with the virus that causes COVID-19, doctors may change the date of induced labor or a C-section.
To protect your health and your baby's health, some facilities may limit the number of people allowed in the room during labor and delivery. Postpartum visits may be affected as well. In addition, doctors may decide to examine you and the person accompanying you every day during your stay in the hospital to check for any symptoms. Talk to your health care provider about any restrictions you have to adhere to.
If you have COVID-19 infection or have symptoms similar to it and are waiting for test results, it is recommended during your hospital stay and after birth that you wear a cloth face covering and clean your hands when caring for your newborn. Placing your newborn's cot next to your bed while you're in the hospital is acceptable, but it's also recommended that you keep a reasonable distance between you and your baby whenever possible. When you follow these steps, the risk of a newborn being infected with COVID-19 is low.
But if you have severe COVID-19, you may be temporarily separated from your newborn.
Postpartum guidance
We recommend that you receive regular postnatal care. Talk to your health care provider about options for virtual consultations after childbirth, and ask if you need to come to the clinic.
During these trying times, you may become more concerned about your health and the health of your family. Pay attention to your mental health. Reach out to family and friends for support, and at the same time, take precautions to reduce your risk of contracting COVID-19.
If you experience severe mood changes, loss of appetite, extreme tiredness and feeling miserable shortly after giving birth, you may have postpartum depression. Contact your health care provider if you think you may be depressed, especially if symptoms don't go away on their own, interfere with your ability to care for your baby or complete daily tasks, or have thoughts of harming yourself or your baby.
Breastfeeding Considerations
Research indicates that it is unlikely that the COVID-19 virus can be transmitted to children through breast milk. Even more worrying is the possibility that an infected mother could pass the virus on to her baby through respiratory droplets during breastfeeding.
If you contract COVID-19, you must take several steps to avoid transmitting the virus to your child. Wash your hands before breastfeeding and wear a mask during and when you are within 6 feet (2 metres) of your baby. If you are using a pump to express breast milk, wash your hands before touching any pump or any part of the feeding bottle, and follow recommendations for proper pump cleaning. Ask someone else to feed the baby with extracted milk
if that's possible.
Information for pregnant and breastfeeding women about COVID-19 vaccines
The COVID-19 vaccine is recommended if you are pregnant or breast-feeding. Receiving the COVID-19 vaccine can protect you from severe illness caused by the COVID-19 virus. Vaccination can also help pregnant women build antibodies that may protect their babies. If possible, people staying with you should receive the COVID-19 vaccine.
COVID-19 vaccines do not cause COVID-19 infection in either pregnant women or their infants. None of the COVID-19 vaccines contain the live virus that causes COVID-19.
Although more research is needed, preliminary results indicate that vaccination with the COVID-19 mRNA vaccine during pregnancy does not pose severe risks to pregnant women who receive the vaccine, nor to their children. The findings are based on data from the CDC's Coronavirus Vaccine Safety Monitoring System. It should be noted that the mRNA vaccines against COVID-19 do not alter DNA or cause genetic changes.
Furthermore, vaccines that use the same viral vector as the Janssen/Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine for pregnant women have been given every trimester of pregnancy in clinical trials. No adverse effects were detected.
The COVID-19 vaccine is recommended if you are currently or may become pregnant. There is no evidence yet that any of the COVID-19 vaccines may cause fertility problems.
If you become pregnant after receiving your first dose of a two-dose COVID-19 vaccine, it is recommended that you receive your second dose. Pregnant women can also receive a booster shot of the COVID-19 vaccine. If you have any questions, ask your health care provider about the benefits and risks of this.
What you can do
If you haven't received the COVID-19 vaccine, take steps to reduce your risk of contracting it. Avoid close contact with anyone who is sick or have symptoms of illness and maintain a distance of approximately 6 feet (2 meters) between you and others. Wear a face mask when advised. Wash your hands several times with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol. If people who live with you or come to visit you have not had the COVID-19 vaccine, they should follow the same precautions.
Above all, focus on taking care of yourself and your baby. Call your doctor to discuss any concerns you have. If you're having trouble coping with stress or anxiety, talk to your doctor or mental health counselor about strategies for coping with the virus outbreak.
mayo clinic.org
