COVID-19 FAQs: PREGNANCY
March 23, 2020
Am I at greater risk for the coronavirus while I’m pregnant?
Good News! There is currently no evidence pregnant women are any more susceptible to COVID-19 than the average healthy adult. However, based on our experiences with other respiratory illnesses, (including influenza and SARS) the CDC warns contracting COVID-19 while pregnant could make you more vulnerable to severe respiratory problems than other infected women in their childbearing years. This is because pregnant women usually have increased heart rates, smaller lung capacity and high alert immune systems. So far, there have been no reports of COVID-19-related maternal deaths.
What does the coronavirus mean for my baby?
More good news! This virus has not been detected in amniotic fluid, cord blood, placenta tissue or breast milk. Therefore, we do not believe there is “vertical transmission” (you won’t give it to your fetus). This is different than what we saw with Zika virus where the effects on the fetus were noticeable in utero as it passed through the placenta. However, your newborn and children can contract COVID-19 like the rest of us, but in a large majority their symptoms are mild to moderate.
How should I protect myself if I’m pregnant?
Social distancing is of utmost importance if you are not considered critical at your job. At this time if there is a work from home option we HIGHLY recommend it. Drink lots of water (60+ ounces daily), eat a balanced diet and take your prenatal vitamins. Our first priority is to keep you healthy and safe. We want to minimize your risk of exposure in the healthcare setting just as you are doing in the general public. We will be discussing your appointment schedules with you. For some low risk patients we may space your appointment intervals to meet what is appropriate for you and your pregnancy. Currently, we are not allowing visitors in the office except for one guest during your 20-week ultrasound (subject to change). Under normal circumstances our office is incredibly family oriented and kid friendly, but at this time we are working hard to keep our patient, staff and physicians healthy.
How is COVID-19 likely to affect my Labor & Delivery experience if I don’t have coronavirus?
Currently, North Central Baptist Hospital (our delivering hospital) is restricting mothers to only one supportive member throughout their labor, delivery, and postpartum hospital stay to minimize risk/exposure. You may notice doctors and nursing staff wearing masks more frequently throughout your hospital stay as well. We are fighting hard to keep this special time in your life intimate and personal. We are continuing to do skin to skin, delayed cord clamping, family cutting of the umbilical cord, etc when medically appropriate. At this time, there is no indication for a cesarean section simply because a mother has COVID-19. We prefer for you to have a vaginal delivery in all cases (except for some medical conditions and/or personal history) but especially during this time. A vaginal delivery often means a faster recovery for you and less time in the hospital.
Will I have a bed at the hospital or will Labor & Delivery be full?
Luckily, pregnancy lasts for over 9 months! We will not have a sudden increase in the number of patients who are delivering at this time. Even under normal circumstances our delivery unit can become very busy, we are not anticipating that to be related to COVID-19 at this point.
Additional recommended resources regarding COVID-19 and Pregnancy
CDC Information
ProPublica Article
UTSW Med Article