COVID-19 & Maternal Health

5 important things to know about pregnancy & COVID-19

Vaccines are considered are safe for pregnant individuals.

Miscarriages, preterm births, and stillbirths have NOT been linked to the COVID-19 vaccines.

The COVID vaccine is safe at any trimester.

CDC and professional medical groups, such as the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine, recommend getting the COVID-19 vaccine at any time during pregnancy, as well as getting booster doses for those who need them, at any time.

The COVID-19 vaccine does not affect fertility.

There is currently no proof that any vaccination, including the COVID-19 vaccine, causes reproductive difficulties in women or men.

Your vaccine protects your baby from COVID-19 too.

The vaccines do not cause infection in pregnant people or babies. When pregnant women get an mRNA COVID-19 vaccination, their bodies produce antibodies against COVID-19 in the same way as non-pregnant women do. Studies suggest that these antibodies are passed to the fetus when a pregnant person is vaccinated. These antibodies help protect both the baby and mother against COVID-19.

COVID-19 increases your risks of complications during pregnancy.

Although the overall risks are minimal, pregnant or recently pregnant women are more likely than non-pregnant women to become extremely sick if they contract COVID-19. Furthermore, if you have COVID-19 while pregnant, you are at a higher risk of problems that might harm your pregnancy and the growing baby. COVID-19, for example, increases the chance of delivering a preterm or stillborn baby during pregnancy.

How can pregnant people stay safe during COVID-19?

Don’t miss doctor appointments or wellness checks.

Stay safe.

  • Avoid large and small gatherings in public spaces whenever possible

  • Wash your hands often (especially if you live, work, commute or otherwise end up in crowded spaces).

Speak with your doctors or a trusted health professional.

Get tested.

Get tested often, even if you do not feel sick! Remember, not everyone who gets COVID exhibits symptoms.

Get vaccinated.

What if I get COVID-19 while I’m pregnant?

Don’t panic.

The most important thing if you test positive for COVID-19 while you are pregnant is to remain calm and speak with a doctor as soon as possible.

Speak with your doctor or a health professional.

Make sure you have good relationship with your medical team and feel they respect your opinions and lived experiences. If not, find another team as soon as possible. Having a trusted doctor, or a trusted doula who will advocate on your behalf makes a world of a difference.

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Pregnancy risks & COVID-19

Being pregnant does not appear to make you more likely to get COVID-19.

  • Pregnancy does NOT appear to put expecting mothers at an increased risk of contracting COVID-19. Source: Harvard Health

Pregnancy DOES put you at greater risk if you do get COVID-19.

  • However, studies show that pregnant people who DO contract COVID-19 are at an increased risk of hospitalization, requiring intensive care or developing serious respiratory issues. Source: Center for Disease Control

  • People who have COVID-19 during pregnancy are also at a higher risk of preterm delivery (having the baby before 37 weeks) and stillbirth, as well as other pregnancy issues. Source: Center for Disease Control

Why are pregnant women with COVID-19 at a greater risk a serious illness?

  • Pregnant women are more likely to have a weakened immune system because their lung capacity is decreased during pregnancy. This makes a pregnant person more likely to get very sick COVID-19 because it is a respiratory disease. Source: National Institute of Health

  • Pregnancy also increases the likelihood of blood clots, which COVID-19 worsens.

Can Pregnant People Breastfeed with COVID-19?

Yes, the benefits of breastfeeding are greater than the risks, even for individuals with COVID-19.

  • Having COVID-19 does not make it more dangerous to breastfeed.
    Source: Who Health Organization

  • COVID-19 vaccines are safe for lactating people and recent findings suggest that those who've received the vaccines have antibodies in their breastmilk, which could even protect their infants. Source: CDC

If You Choose to Breastfeed, Use Caution:

  • Take precautions when breastfeeding, especially while diagnosed COVID-19

    • Avoid (other) sick people

    • Wear a mask for any and all contact with one's children

    • Sanitize and disinfect surfaces children may touch.

    • Frequently wash your hands!

    Source: John Hopkins Medicine