Is there an impact on pregnant women and COVID-19?
The coronavirus COVID-19 is still new, and there is a lot that researchers are still learning about it.
Many questions, though, still remain. One of those concerns pregnant women and the impact COVID-19 could have on their pregnancy.
There is no confirmed link between pregnancy and an increased likelihood to contract the coronavirus. However, it's already established that pregnancy can weaken the immune system in some women, which could potentially lead to more severe symptoms should the virus be contracted.
To protect against this occurrence, pregnant women should strictly follow the guidelines set by the US Centers for Disease Control during the pandemic to avoid getting sick, which include social distancing, wearing a mask in public, frequent handwashing, cleaning surfaces regularly and staying home.
Risks to mother and infant
- High fevers (a common COVID-19 symptom) during the first trimester can increase the risk of birth defects.
- Very few cases of COVID-19 have been discovered in newborns, but it's not yet known how or when it was contracted.
- Previous coronaviruses, such as SARS and MERS, have been linked to preterm births and low birth weights, but it's undetermined if it's linked to miscarriages.
Continue to talk to your physician
Keep appointments with your OB/GYN and primary care provider, but call in advance to see if the physician has changed the appointment to a virtual visit, such as telehealth or a phone call.
Is it still safe to deliver in a hospital?
Hospital birthing suites have incorporated additional safety measures to their labor and delivery processes. While the experience may be different, healthcare facilities are still safe places to delivery children. Once home with the infant, continue to practice those guidelines designed to limit the spread of the coronavirus:
- Stay home
- Wash hands before and after touching the baby
- Limit visitors