Coronavirus and Pregnancy: What Yous Should Know

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Updated on February iv, 2021

Pregnancy can be a time of joyous anticipation and excitement for women and their families. But the coronavirus pandemic raises concerns. Are you and your baby at risk?

By following doctors' advice and taking some actress precautions, you can enjoy a healthy, happy pregnancy while protecting yourself and your unborn child from the effects of COVID-19.

Jeanne Sheffield, Yard.D., an skilful in maternal-fetal medicine at Johns Hopkins, explains what meaning women should know virtually the impact of the coronavirus and COVID-19 on pregnancy. She provides perspective on electric current inquiry information concerning pregnant women who have had COVID-19, and offers suggestions on what y'all tin can exercise to stay safer.

Avoiding the Coronavirus During Pregnancy

Avoiding infection with the coronavirus is a top priority for pregnant women. Sheffield explains why: "Pregnant women tin can experience changes to their allowed systems that tin can make them more vulnerable to respiratory viruses," she says. "These changes hateful that expectant mothers should be proactive when information technology comes to safety measures.

"If yous're pregnant, you lot should accept precautions to protect yourself from getting COVID-xix. Do everything yous can, including physical distancing, wearing a mask, hand-washing and staying in shut advice with your provider."

She says many practitioners are scheduling less frequent appointments to assist pregnant patients limit trips to the doctor's role. Other obstetricians are ramping up telemedicine processes so they can go along to monitor pregnant patients without an in-person visit. Ask your obstetrician about these options.

Should pregnant women go a coronavirus examination? If y'all are having COVID-nineteen symptoms or think you have been exposed to an infected person, call your doctor and follow his or her communication. Adhere to precautions carefully: Stay at least 6 feet from others, wear a mask, and avoid large gatherings and indoor socializing exterior of your household.

Sheffield says, "Ideally, all significant women should exist screened for COVID-19 when they are admitted to evangelize their babies, but particularly mothers with cough, fever or any respiratory symptoms."

Now that the first COVID-19 vaccines accept been authorized by the U.S. Nutrient and Drug Administration, vaccination has begun beyond the country. Hither'southward more about the COVID-19 vaccine and pregnancy.

Finally, significant women should be vaccinated confronting influenza (the flu). Pregnant women who get the flu can become very sick, and having a high fever raises the risk of harm to your baby.

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COVID-19'due south Impact on Pregnant Women

Women who have COVID-19 symptoms while pregnant should notify their doctors immediately. If you are tested for the coronavirus and it turns out yous have it, do non panic.

"We can provide handling for COVID-19 in pregnancy," Sheffield says. "Several of the medications currently in utilize are as well being used for our pregnant women, and early on studies accept shown they can provide some benefit."

The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and the Society of Maternal-Fetal Medicine have worked with national and international leaders on recommendations for doctors working with pregnant women who might have COVID-19 or who have been diagnosed with the disease. These recommendations are based on data from the first few months of the coronavirus pandemic, and are being updated equally more is learned about the virus.

In a Sept. 25, 2020, report from the U.Southward. Centers for Affliction Command and Prevention, researchers reported birth outcomes of 598 pregnant women with confirmed COVID-xix.

Pregnant women with COVID-nineteen were plant to be more likely to be hospitalized and require ICU admission than non-pregnant women. L-v percent of the hospitalized patients had no COVID-nineteen symptoms (asymptomatic). One-fifth of the hospitalized women had underlying medical conditions. There was a 2% pregnancy loss charge per unit, and a pocket-sized increase in preterm deliveries.

"In that location is still limited data about whether COVID-nineteen in detail is associated with pregnancy loss, miscarriage or stillbirth," she says. "Merely we do know that high fevers in pregnancy, especially in the get-go trimester, can heighten the risk of birth defects. That is why nosotros encourage our patients to protect themselves from any illness that causes fever, including the flu."

Hospital Visitors During the Coronavirus Pandemic

Sheffield says there's i more very of import item for pregnant women to remember: Many hospitals are irresolute their company policies to control the spread of the coronavirus.

For instance, The Johns Hopkins Infirmary strictly limits labor and delivery visitors to 1. That means a patient tin can designate but one person to accompany her through the birth process: a partner, a family member or a doula. The infirmary'southward ambulatory birth center is not assuasive whatever visitors at all while the pandemic continues. These guidelines are adjusted depending on the community prevalence of COVID-19.

Such policies can be hard on families, dashing plans and expectations for a joyous birth shared among loved ones. Just, says Sheffield, these limits are essential to protecting patients, their babies, other patients and hospital staff.

"People have been gracious and agreement," she says. "We capeesh everyone'south cooperation in these extraordinary times."

Scientist carefully insets a pipette into a test tube.

Coronavirus (COVID-19)

What you lot need to know from Johns Hopkins Medicine.