If You’re Pregnant, Here’s What You Need to Know About the Coronavirus
At this time last year, I was 36 weeks pregnant with my son. This was my first pregnancy, and I followed the rules to the extreme. Cafein free. No meat for lunch. No jumping on trampolines. I loved doing it all before pregnancy, but now it was not just about me. I was afraid that something from the outside might damage the cute, tiny thing inside.
So if you are reading this, know that your anxiety, which is likely exacerbated by the coronavirus, is understandable. You have a lot to do and a lot is happening in this world.
What you need to know if you are pregnant
When you are pregnant, both visible and invisible changes take place in your body. One of those invisible changes is slowing down your immune system. Your body does a great job of building this little man, and part of that building process often forces your immune system to suppress itself.
With that in mind, a suppressed immune system could make pregnant women more susceptible to viral respiratory infections, including the new coronavirus that causes COVID-19, according to obstetrician-gynecologist Hatem Hatem, an Acacia doctor of obstetrics and gynecology in San Antonio.
The word “ could” is often used when discussing pregnancy and COVID-19. There is still a lot to be learned about this infection, and especially about its effect on pregnant women.
“Based on the limited information available and the small number of COVID-19 cases, pregnant women may be at a higher risk of severe illness than the general population,” says Hatem.
With information scarcity and all Mays and mights – there are no recommendations currently in place specifically targeted at pregnant women, says Atem.
Another power? Can a mother pass COVID-19 to her baby in the womb?
“It is also unclear at present,” says Hatem. “Outside of the US, there have been several unsubstantiated reports of positive test results for babies after birth. We do not know with certainty how these babies were infected, and whether it happened during or after pregnancy. “
What is clear is that in the limited number of confirmed cases of babies born to mothers infected with COVID-19, none of the babies have tested positive for the infection. And that’s good news.
What you need to know upon delivery
If your delivery date is approaching, the hospital may seem like the last place you would like to be, next to the plane. Again, your concern is understandable, but perhaps unwarranted.
If a person infected with COVID-19 is admitted to the hospital, CDC will provide step-by-step guidance on how best to mitigate this risk and keep other patients safe. These steps include properly preparing for the arrival of an infected patient; placing patients in a single room with a closed door; limiting visitors to the patient and limiting the movement of the patient around the hospital.
If COVID-19 – or germs in general – is forcing you to rethink your hospital birth plan, keep in mind that the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) still considers hospitals to be the safest place to give birth.
What you need to know when your child is outside
When your baby steps out into the light, the next level of anxiety begins. COVID-19 isn’t helping, but in my experience you’ll be worried about everything from whether your nipple is clean enough to whether you assembled your breast pump correctly. This is just a part of the territory.
It’s good to be careful when it comes to this coronavirus and your newborn, but it’s also good to know that, for some reason, children are less at risk of serious symptoms from COVID-19 than adults.
With this in mind, if you test positive for the virus, or if you suspect that you have contracted COVID-19, there are some steps you can take to limit your exposure to your baby. Hatem recommends that parents wash their hands before touching their baby and that nursing parents wear a face mask whenever possible while breastfeeding.
“When expressing breast milk with a breast pump, be sure to wash your hands before touching any part of the pump,” says Hatem. “If possible, consider having someone milk the baby well.”
While it has not yet been decided whether COVID-19 can be transmitted through breast milk, to date, in some limited cases, there has been no evidence that the virus has been found in breast milk.
what to do now
Although little is known about this virus and its full impact, the number of confirmed cases of pregnant COVID-19 patients is extremely small. With the level of efforts made by experts, the government and the world as a whole, there is hope to keep it low.
While it’s natural to be afraid at a time like this, remind yourself that the odds now seem to be in your favor. Try not to let anything rob you of the joy of having a baby. Even COVID-19.
Editor’s Note: The author and Dr. Hatem Hatem are linked.