Coronavirus and Pregnancy: Having kids is a great responsibility that parents are always willing to take; as children are god’s little angels who make life a lot more bearable. Thereby finding out that you are pregnant is thrilling news; but once you celebrate that with friends and family, you realize all the things you should start preparing for the baby’s arrival.
The list is long and includes building a nursery or a room, buying newborn clothes, deciding where to give labor, and a lot more. When you add to that the fact that your date is due during the Coronavirus or COVID-19 global pandemic, things become overwhelming.
Pregnant and Worried About the Coronavirus?
Coronavirus and pregnancy can leave you feeling anxious, and you can’t be blamed. However, do you need to excessively worry?
Although leaving through a pandemic is nerve wrecking, coronavirus and pregnancy are not something that you should worry about. So far, the Covid-19 virus has not been proven to affect pregnant women more than non pregnant ones. In fact, most affected pregnant women have mild to moderate symptoms as non-pregnant women in the childbearing period, and their babies are delivered healthy with no symptoms or any other complications that may have resulted from the coronavirus infection.
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What You Need to Know About Coronavirus?
According to CDC, Coronaviruses typically spread from an infected person to other people via respiratory drops that get into the air by coughing or sneezing. Are you safe? How do you make sure that you are doing everything right so that you and your baby stay safe through the Covid-19 infection? Allow us to explain everything you may need to know about coronavirus and pregnancy.
Am I More Prone to Coronavirus Infection?
The Covid-19 virus is known to cause a more severe form in the immune compromised than in healthier individuals. And because the normal flu affects pregnant women more than non pregnant ones, scientists thought that pregnant women are a risk group. However, no scientific evidence supports this theory. Coronavirus virus doesn’t seem to spread in a wilder pattern among pregnant women and causes mild to moderate symptoms with complete recovery afterwards.
So being pregnant does not increase the risk of catching the coronavirus infection.
What Are the Symptoms of Coronavirus and Pregnancy?
The Covid-19 is a virus that affects your respiratory system. It causes respiratory symptoms that start to appear after an incubation period of 2 to 14 days, with an average of 4 days. The symptoms include:
- Dry Cough
- High Persistent Fever
- Headaches
- Diarrhea
- Easy Fatigue
- Sore Throat
- Significant Shortness Of Breath.
These symptoms are common in all affected people as coronavirus and pregnancy do not cause a more severe condition or different symptoms. In severe cases, the disease may be complicated with adult respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) or pneumonia, requiring a hospital stay and maybe a mechanical ventilator.
To avoid severe Covid-19 infection, call your doctor immediately if you have any of the symptoms.
Coronavirus and Pregnancy Effect
Since the Covid-19 infection is still new, there are not enough studies to provide certain facts about coronavirus and pregnancy yet. However, researches on small samples of pregnant women in China and the UK have shown that the Covid-19 infection does not affect your pregnancy or delivery of the baby.
Although many studies suggest that coronavirus and pregnancy might pose a higher rate of miscarriage, stillbirths, and preterm labor, the random research done does not support the proposed theory. Although some women infected with Coronavirus did give preterm labor, it was due to other factors than the disease. Also no studies have shown that it causes miscarriage or affects the baby’s health.
Effect of Coronavirus On Your Baby
Again, current studies are extremely limited on how coronavirus infection can affect your baby. However, as far as we know, Covid-19 is not passed as a vertical infection to your fetus: all coronavirus positive mothers had their babies tested for the infection just after birth and the result returned back as negative.
However, some babies had a positive test for the Covid-19 infection a few days after birth, but that’s probably because the Coronavirus spreads by droplet infection so they might have caught it after birth. There is no need to worry about that as most children including newborns fully recover from the disease. The Coronavirus infection has not been proven to cause any malformations to the baby in the womb as well.
Last, there is no evidence that the infection can be transmitted down to your baby through breast milk, so you can normally breastfeed your child even if you test positive for the Covid-19 virus.
How to Protect Yourself and Your Baby From COVID-19?
Although coronavirus and pregnancy is not different from coronavirus in healthy people, it is better to stay safe and apply all precautions to avoid catching the coronavirus infection. Below are some tips that will help.
1Wash Your Hands Frequently
Wash Your Hands Frequently
Since the Covid-19 virus spreads by droplet infection, washing your hands regularly is the most important factor in preventing the disease. This is because you can touch an infected surface then your face or food transmitting the virus into your body. So make sure to wash your hands for 20 seconds with soap very frequently and avoid touching your face. If water is not available, you can use a 70% alcohol sanitizer instead.
2Keep a Social Distance
Keep a Social Distance
The virus can travel in the air for a distance of one meter. This happens when a sick person sneezes, coughes, or even a little bit can be spread when she or he normally talks. So keeping a distance makes sure that you don’t smell the virus from infected air or get it on your body or clothes. Stay away from crowded places as they might contain people infected with the virus.
3Hydration, Adequate Rest, and Exercise
Hydration, Adequate Rest, and Exercise
Taking care of your body can greatly help in preventing infection as a healthier body equals a better immunity. Make sure you eat well, drink at least 2 litres of water a day, and exercise as long as your doctor allows it. Remember it is safe to take walks around the house as long as you keep a safe distance. It is better if you wear a face mask if outside your house.
4Vitamin Supplements
Vitamin Supplements
Maintaining a healthy body means eating a healthy diet. Eating foods as fruits and vegetables will help boost your immunity. But since pregnancy is a state of lower immunity, taking vitamin supplements can greatly help prevent coronavirus infection. So don’t forget including vitamins inyour diet to help boost your immunity.
Management of Pregnant Women With Covid-19 Infection
One question that might cross your mind is what happens if your test results come back as positive and whether you will need a ceaserian section when your date is due. The medicine used in treating the Covid-19 infection is the same as used in other respiratory diseases.
Corona Virus and pregnancy
Hello once again. In this video we are going to talk about all the facts and myths surrounding #Coronavirus and #Pregnancy. Let's get started. What You Need to ...
Doctors recommend taking Tylenol with adequate rest and hydration, but if symptoms persist call your doctor for a more specific protocol.
Whether you will require a cesareian section or not is a decision of your obstetrician as there are no studies that prove coronavirus infection as an indication.
On the contrary, most doctors recommend that you have a vaginal delivery if there are no contraindications.
To Sum it Up!
Coronavirus virus and pregnancy do not pose a great danger to either your or your baby’s health. However, it is better to stay safe and follow your government’s order to avoid catching the Covid-19 infection.
We know it’s hard not to worry about your baby’s health during a global pandemic, but all studies suggest that you will have a safe delivery with a healthy baby.
