3 minute read
Pregnancy and Covid-19
Cowichan Women’s Health Collective
Pregnancy and Covid-19
The Covid-19 pandemic has changed the world as we know it. Fear, anxiety, uncertainty and loss have characterized many of our experiences over the last 18 months. We have been isolated and alone, unable to engage in our normal social functions and celebrations. For some, the slower pace of life has meant an opportunity to refl ect on what is important in our lives and hopefully there has been solace and comfort in that.
The speed in which the vaccination program has been rolled out has many implications. Freedom and the return to normal is something we are all looking forward to. However, as with all things new, there are many questions and perhaps more so for vulnerable populations and specifi cally for pregnant and nursing women.
What we know:
Pregnant people are more at risk for severe illness from Covid-19 then non-pregnant people. Pregnancy can cause changes in your immune system which may put you at a higher risk for complications of respiratory disease. According to the BC CDC if you contract Covid-19 while pregnant you are three times more likely to end up in the ICU than those who contract Covid-19 while not pregnant. It is also important to note that while that may seem like a very scary statistic, it is still true that the vast majority of pregnant and nonpregnant people who contract Covid-19 will have either mild or moderate symptoms and be able to recover at home. There is evidence that shows women may also be more likely to have a preterm birth if they contract Covid-19, however current research has shown that this is only a very slightly elevated risk. There is also new evidence that is suggesting that vaccinated women pass antibodies to the baby while pregnant which then protects them from getting Covid-19 once they are born.
For these reasons, the Society of Obstetricians and Gynecologists of Canada are now recommending that all pregnant people regardless of trimester, receive the vaccine. Preliminary research is showing that vaccines are safe in pregnancy and to date the evidence suggests that the risks of adverse reactions associated with the vaccine are similar to the non-pregnant population. Studies remain ongoing and while there have not been any cases of severe complications associated with the vaccine and pregnancy, some people may still feel that there is not enough information for them to feel comfortable with being immunized.
Regardless of your position on vaccinations, when making any decision in pregnancy it is important to recognize that you always have a choice. Informed decision making is understanding the risks, benefi ts, and recommendations and then incorporating your values and beliefs into that decision. There is no right or wrong. Your decision will be supported because it is what is right for you. Our children represent the future, they are the very essence of what we all want and need: Hope.
If you have questions or concerns, reach out to the local public health offi ce, your GP or midwife. They are here to help.
Written by Kate and Winter Koyote (she/her) The Cowichan Women’s Health Collective acknowledges our settler relationship to the unceded territory of the Hul’q’umi’num’ speaking peoples upon which we live.
PRACTITIONER & SERVICES AT MATRAEA CENTRE: Dr. Rikst Attema, ND and Dr. Jenna Waddy, ND--Naturopathic Medicine; Sophie Barbant-Hayward, M.A., RPC--Substance Abuse Therapy; Sonia Furstenau, MLA—Cowichan Valley Constituency Offi ce; Kate Koyote, RM—Midwifery Services; Candice Wray, RN--Two Moons Lactation Consulting; Amanda Slydell--Tax Preparer Extraordinaire; Amber Burwash and Erin Sheen—The Place to Mortgage; Hayley Sinai, M.A— Youth and Family Counselling and Intuitive Reading; Pamela Boechler - Physiotherapist and Kendra Thomas, CVAP & Warmland Women’s Support Services Society--Sexual Assault Support
and Crime Vicitim Assistance Advocacy COVID-19 AND PREGNANCY RESOURCES TO CHECK OUT FOR MORE INFORMATION:
https://sogc.org/ covid
BC Centre for Disease Control
http://www.bccdc.ca/ health-professionals/ clinical-resources/ covid-19-care/ clinical-care/ pregnancy
Mayo Clinic
https://newsnetwork. mayoclinic.org/ discussion/whatstudies-show-aboutpregnancy-covid-19vaccines/
New England Journal of Medicine
https://www.nejm. org/doi/full/10.1056/ NEJMoa2104983
