Coronavirus Disease and Pregnancy: What women should know about COVID-19
Being at the pinkest of health is a top priority for any pregnant woman, to ensure that she and the baby will stay healthy until the much-awaited birth of the child.
However, unexpected health crises like the spread of the Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) make it much more complicated and stressful to achieve this. So, here are important facts about pregnancy and COVID-19 from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in the U.S., to help expectant mothers out there take better care of themselves and their babies.
CDC answers frequently asked questions about the Coronavirus Disease and pregnancy
Q: Are pregnant women more vulnerable to the Coronavirus Disease?
A: While there's still no published scientific reports that say that pregnant women are more susceptible to the Coronavirus Disease, the CDC still recommends expectant mothers to take extra precautions since pregnant women experience immunologic and physiologic changes which might make them more prone to viral respiratory infections. Also, according to CDC, pregnant women might be at risk for severe illness, morbidity, or mortality compared to the general population, as observed in cases of other related coronavirus infections like the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (SARS-CoV) and Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (MERS-CoV) and other viral respiratory infections, such as influenza, during pregnancy.
Q: Are pregnant women infected with COVID-19 at increased risk for adverse pregnancy outcomes?
A: There's still no conclusive information on adverse pregnancy outcomes in pregnant women with COVID-19. However, miscarriages and stillbirth, have been reported in other coronavirus-related diseases such as SARS-CoV and MERS-CoV. The CDC also warns that high fevers during the first trimester of pregnancy can increase the risk of certain birth defects.
Q: Are pregnant healthcare personnel at increased risk for adverse outcomes if they care for patients with COVID-19?
A: Information on COVID-19 in pregnancy is still limited. So, to ensure their safety, the CDC recommends limiting exposure of pregnant healthcare personnel (HCP) to patients with confirmed or suspected COVID-19.
Q: Can pregnant women with COVID-19 pass the virus to their fetus or newborn (i.e. vertical transmission)?
A: The virus that causes COVID-19 spreads mainly by close contact with an infected person through respiratory droplets. It is still unknown whether COVID-19 can be passed on by pregnant woman to her fetus or neonate by other routes of vertical transmission (before, during, or after delivery). But according to the CDC, in limited recent case series of infants born to mothers with COVID-19 published in the peer-reviewed literature, none of the infants have tested positive for the virus. Moreover, the Coronavirus Disease was not detected in samples of amniotic fluid or breastmilk, and vertical transmission for other coronaviruses like MERS-CoV and SARS-CoV has not been reported.
Since more studies have yet to be done on the direct effects of COVID-19 on pregnant women and their babies, it's best for expectant mothers to remain vigilant and take extra precautions. As they say, prevention better than cure. So, to all pregnant women, make sure you observe proper hygiene (especially frequent and proper hand washing), avoid crowded places as much as possible, wear a face mask when going out (especially in hospitals), and strengthen your immune system by being well-nourished.