Pregnancy and COVID-19: What are the risks
- 26 Aug, 2021
- IVF and Infertility
- infertility
- Medically Reviewed By:
Dr. Nishi Singh - Author: Prime IVF Centre
COVID-19 has one more time struck our nation and the second wave of COVID-19 is more severe and worse than before. With the mutant strain of the virus, more people are getting infected seriously. The hospitals are getting full with limited availability of beds and once again lockdown has been declared.
With daily cases reaching over 4 lakhs, most people are now scared of stepping out of their houses unless absolutely necessary.
During this chaos and panic situation, many couples who were planning to have a baby are not so sure anymore.
In this article, we will discuss pregnancy during COVID-19 and the various questions that people have regarding it.
Table of Contents
Feel free to skip ahead if one topic catches your eye
1. Can I plan Pregnancy during the COVID-19 Pandemic?
There are studies that have shown that pregnant women are at an increased risk of catching the COVID-19 infection and getting a more serious disease as compared to women who are not pregnant. This happens because of the various physiological changes that occur in the body of a pregnant woman. But this does not mean that COVID-19 is a strict no to getting pregnant.
There are many couples who have been eagerly waiting to start their families but got disheartened by this second wave of COVID.
You can definitely plan pregnancy during the COVID-19 pandemic. But you have to take much more care of yourself and your baby's safety. And there are certain things that you should be sure of before planning the pregnancy.
Before trying for a baby, the first thing you should ensure is that neither you nor your partner is having an active infection. COVID in pregnancy can cause harm to your body. If you are suffering from an infection, wait for at least 10 days, once your reports come negative before trying for a baby.
Another thing that you should check is the availability of your obstetrician. During this pandemic, the healthcare system is seriously overburdened with the excessive patient load and your obstetrician and her/his clinic might not be functioning normally. Have a detailed discussion with your IVF Specialist in Delhi or obstetrician about your plan for a pregnancy.
You should be aware of all the problems that can occur during pregnancy and the need for urgent hospitalization in some cases. You will also require regular check-ups throughout the 9 months of your pregnancy, for which you will be required to visit the clinic or the hospital. This might put you at risk of getting COVID in pregnancy.
Keeping all these points in mind, understand the situation well, and then decide on a pregnancy. It is very important to keep your obstetrician in the loop at all times so that they can guide you better and provide immediate help in case you need it.
2. How does COVID-19 affect me and my baby?
As mentioned earlier, pregnant women are at a higher risk of getting a more serious infection as compared to women who are not pregnant. Due to this reason, pregnant women are considered to be a moderately vulnerable group of the population.
There is some evidence that COVID in pregnancy can also cause a high risk for delivering premature babies. These babies might require neonatal ICU admission due to their prematurity.
Other than this, studies do not show any increased rates of cesarean section in pregnant women who get COVID infection. The choice of conducting a cesarean section depends on your obstetrician and your specific condition. If there is any indication for a cesarean section, only then it will be performed.
As far as your baby is concerned, serious COVID infection has not been observed in most babies. Although pregnancy and COVID-19 have not been extensively studied, based on the limited data that is available, there is no evidence of transmission of the virus from the mother to her baby through vertical transmission or through breast milk.
But it is important to note that babies can get the COVID-19 infection from their mothers during the process of breastfeeding. Close contact with an infected mother can lead to infection in the baby if proper precautions are not taken.
3. How can I protect myself and my baby from coronavirus?
Since being pregnant puts you at a higher risk, you and your family have to be extremely careful during these pandemic times. All of you have to strictly follow all the safety guidelines that are necessary for protection from COVID. These include:
Strict home isolation. Only step outside your home if it is absolutely necessary.
Maintain proper social distancing whenever you go out.
Use double masks and a shield to protect yourself from the virus.
Follow strict hand hygiene and clean your hands with alcohol-based hand sanitizer or hand wash.
Follow strict respiratory hygiene.
Get vaccinated at the earliest. Pregnancy is not a contraindication for vaccination and since pregnant women are high-risk patients, they should definitely get vaccinated as soon as possible.
There are a few extra precautionary measures for pregnant women like:
Eat a well-balanced diet with lots of protein.
Drink plenty of fluids and keep yourself hydrated.
Stay active and be mobile to prevent the formation of any blood clots in the body.
Take all your vitamins and medicines regularly.
The health of the baby is also very important during these times and you have to be extremely careful while handling the baby as well. If you are COVID positive after your delivery, you can still breastfeed your baby and still share the same room with him/her, provided you follow all the necessary precautions.
Wash your hands properly with an alcohol-based hand sanitizer or hand wash before and after touching your baby.
Wear double masks while breastfeeding your baby.
Do not allow a lot of visitors to come to see your baby.
Take Away
This was a brief article on pregnancy and COVID-19 and how a pregnancy during COVID-19 can look like. For further information, contact a qualified professional, who will be able to guide you further.
Prime IVF Centre has all the latest equipment used for IVF and the doctors working there have more than 15 years of experience in treating couples who suffer from infertility. At Prime IVF, you will get the right guidance and support in this sensitive time.
