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Pregnancy and coVID-19 What expectant mothers need to know about the coronavirus By IsaBelle Bousquett
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here are still many unknowns regarding the intersection of pregnancy and the coronavirus. Because the virus is relatively recent, not many infants have been born to infected mothers. So it’s hard for scientists to offer certainties about the way the virus might affect pregnant women and their babies. However, the CDC has put out some guidance for pregnant women during the coronavirus outbreak. Here’s what you need to know about pregnancy and coronavirus: Pregnant women may be at an increased risk While there are no studies on the level
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NewYorkFamily.com | May 2020
of a pregnant woman’s susceptibility to COVID-19, pregnant women are often more susceptible to similar respiratory infections. Pregnant women are naturally a higher risk group than the general population. They were more at risk for severe illness from related infections, such as the SARS and MERS outbreaks. Similarly, they are vulnerable to complications from the flu. So, while, no one can say for sure, there are reasons to believe that pregnant women are a vulnerable group right now. Justin Brandt, an assistant professor of obstetrics and gynecology at Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School says, “We have seen reports in the US of some pregnant women having severe illnesses. However, at this time, it remains
unclear whether pregnant women with COVID-19 fare worse than non-pregnant patients or have similar outcomes.” Pregnant women with the virus have not transmitted it to the fetus In a limited number of cases observed where infants were born to infected women, the child has tested negative for the virus. (However, infants are susceptible to contracting coronavirus from their mothers after birth). Nevertheless, coronavirus may cause other complications during pregnancy. Justin Brandt says these might include “birth defects, early neonatal disease and other complications.” During SARS and MERS, cases of miscarriage and stillbirth were reported in infected women. In some cases of pregnant women with COVID-19, there has been premature birth (birth before 37 weeks). There is no evidence that Coronavirus is transmitted through breastmilk So far, scientists have not detected the virus in breastmilk. If a new mother is infected with COVID-19, she could potentially pump her milk and then allow someone else to feed the baby. In fact, there is a high likelihood that mothers infected with COVID-19 will be temporarily isolated from their infants
